By Krysia Wazny

“Road Closed” signs lined the intersections of Highland Avenue from Walnut Street to Cedar Street, but traffic continued to pour through the area of another sort. People of all ages made their way on foot or bicycle from one end of the street to the other on a quest for fitness.

The second SomerStreets event Seize the Summer focused upon fitness through exercise with an emphasis on biking. A constant stream of bikers, some assisted by training wheels, wove their way through street activities and passersby. Perpetual motion kept the event alive despite inclement weather in the early hours.

SomerStreets, the city’s Open Streets Initiative, seeks to spread a message of healthy living, and many organizations were present to join in the fight against inactivity. Representatives from Cambridge Health Alliance set up stands to spread the word about healthy eating and breast cancer screening. Lissette, from CHA’s Health Promotion, Access, and Outreach program, said an event like Sunday’s “creates awareness and connects people with resources for getting primary care and other health services.”

Other groups such as the Somerville Bicycle Committee and Somerville Crew sought to draw more community members into a healthy, active lifestyle. Events sponsored by these organizations and others kept children and adults busy, whether they were doing yoga by the library or riding to Davis Square in the Kidical Mass bike ride.

From shopping to sand castle building with some exciting dance moves in between Seize the Summer was fun for the whole family. A testament to the many bicyclists in the community and the basic drive for well being in Somerville, SomerStreets has again proven to be a great success.