1st of 3 Oakland-Berkeley Open Streets events arrives Saturday

photos taken at Love Our Lake Day, June 9, 2013 in Oakland by Frank Chan, SF Bicycle Coalition 20341 Curve of Lakeshore Avenue from pedestrian bridge during Love Our Lake Day photos taken at Love Our Lake Day, June 9, 2013 in Oakland by Frank Chan, SF Bicycle Coalition 20341 Curve of Lakeshore Avenue from pedestrian bridge during Love Our Lake Day Photo: Frank Chan, SF Bicycle Coalition Photo: Frank Chan, SF Bicycle Coalition Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 1st of 3 Oakland-Berkeley Open Streets events arrives Saturday 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Steer your wheels toward the North Oakland and southwest Berkeley neighborhoods this Saturday for Love Our Neighborhood Day, when cyclists, skateboarders and strollers roll together to celebrate these ever-evolving neighborhoods by taking over the streets and having a grand, mile-long party.

“The people are what make this neighborhood great,” said Molly Dodge, a resident who has watched the area along San Pablo blossom in the seven years she has lived in the neighborhood. “I’m excited to see everyone out in the street, I’m glad we have the opportunity to come together and celebrate our community. It’s come a long way.”

To celebrate the creativity, diversity and spirit of the neighborhoods, San Pablo Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic between Stanford and Ashby avenues and stuffed with great community activities focused on being active, learning new things, creating art and getting to know your neighbors.

“Open Streets events like Love Our Neighborhood Day allow us to explore what we easily miss plowing through the streets in automobiles,” said Christine Hwang, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland board president. “Our cities are rich with small businesses, art, dance and fitness studios, and community-based organizations.”

Dig in the dirt with City Slicker Farms, join the drum circle, select a new book from Oakland Public Library’s rolling Bike Library, and breathe easy with meditation and yoga hosted by Siddha Yoga Ashram. Test-ride a shiny new bike or get yours fixed quickly at Sports Basement’s free repair station.

Wheels of every size, shape and style will spin up and down San Pablo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and everyone is invited to ride, skate, dance or just take a stroll in the street. From martial arts to up-cycled crafts, the route will be lined with community groups, musicians, artists and businesses hosting fun and healthy activities. Be sure to bring a camera — those bike fellows love to pose with their rides.

The second annual Love Our Neighborhood Day is presented by East Bay Open Streets, a production of Walk Oakland Bike Oakland in collaboration with the San Pablo and Golden Gate Improvement Association, the Downtown Berkeley Association and North Shattuck Association. The inaugural event was perceived as so successful that business owners and residents along the route are looking forward to hosting it again.

“San Pablo Avenue is not just a state route,” Hwang said. “Thousands of people live along the corridor. It’s as much a transportation conduit between cities as a community space. When we come out and play in the streets, we allow ourselves to reconnect with our environment and our neighbors.”

The East Bay Open Streets Initiative is inspired by and modeled after “Ciclovia,” which originated in Bogota, Colombia, where this type of event is held along 76 miles of main roads every Sunday and on holidays.

Love Our Neighborhood Day is a noncommercial event, which means the focus is on community interaction and having fun, but food vendors and brick-and-mortar restaurants will be open.

Kathryn Herr is a freelance writer.

Bike About Town is presented by Bike East Bay (formerly the East Bay Bicycle Coalition), a 4,000-member nonprofit working for safe, convenient and enjoyable bicycling for all people in the East Bay. For more biking resources, go to www.BikeEastBay.org. E-mail: 96hours@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BikeEastBay

Love Our Neighborhood Day

Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

San Pablo Avenue between Ashby and Stanford avenues, Oakland and South Berkeley

Love Our Lake Day

Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

On Lakeshore Boulevard around Lake Merritt in Oakland

Sunday Streets Berkeley

Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Shattuck Avenue between Rose and Haste streets in Berkeley

To volunteer at the event or to learn more about Open Streets in Oakland and Berkeley, go to www.eastbayopenstreets.org.