An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ September 2025 Event in San José

Viva CalleSJ is an open-streets initiative where several miles of the City of San José’s streets are closed to vehicular traffic, allowing residents to walk, bike, scooter, and skate freely. This report evaluates the Viva CalleSJ event held in San José on September 7, 2025, which attracted more than 150,000 participants. Using a mixed-methods approach, this evaluation examines aspects such as attendance, activities, modal access, and economic impacts, utilizing data from participant surveys (in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese), interviews, and observational analysis. The findings indicate that the Viva CalleSJ September 2025 event was largely successful in achieving its objectives, including promoting active transportation, fostering community connection, and supporting the local economy. Insights from the report can inform planning for future Viva CalleSJ and similar events and demonstrate that these such events have an overall positive impact on the community.