Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that the city will sponsor three CycLOUvia events this year, starting on Bardstown Road next month. The car-free street event will also come to West Broadway and Frankfort Avenue in the spring.

Last October, the city closed a two-mile stretch of Bardstown Road in the Highlands to car traffic for a day and encouraged citizens to bike, walk, run, skate and otherwise enjoy a car-free street. Hundreds turned out to practice yoga in the street, practice skateboard tricks and run. CycLOUvia will return to the Highlands on October 13, when Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue between Broadway and the Douglass Loop will be closed to car traffic from 2-6 p.m.

The middle two lanes will be reserved for bikes, while the outer lanes are open to foot traffic and more. Police will assist vehicle crossings at designated main intersections for through traffic.

See photos from last year’s CycLOUvia.

Dates and times for the West Broadway and Frankfort Avenue events have not been set.

In a release, Fischer says that CycLOUvia helps transform city streets into parks for an afternoon.

“Not only does our CycLOUvia event create a healthier Louisville, it also helps encourage alternative transportation options, brings citizens together and encourages economic development,” says Fischer.

Councilman Tom Owen has contributed $2,500 to the event, and the city is using CafePress’ Tfund crowdfunding platform to raise additional funds. Last year’s Highlands event cost $15,000 and was funded through Owen, a Kickstarter campaign and federal grants for air quality improvement projects.