It may not quite be candy lane, but Pacific Beach this year has something equally festive – an EcoDistrict Holiday Lane.
On Friday, Dec. 14 from 4 to 8 p.m., beautifulPB and others will turn a section of Garnet Avenue into the inaugural family and pet-friendly, car- and alcohol-free EcoDistrict Holiday Lane. 
“There’s going to be a 20-foot mobility lane down the center of the street for bikes, skateboards, skates and electric scooters with four roundabouts,” said Kristin Victor of beautifulPB, a nonprofit promoting sustainable development and EcoDistrict creation, while reducing the ecological footprint and impact of community projects.
Of the Cyclosdias-like event, Victor said: “The roundabouts will show what a car-free main street experiment is about. The beauty of it is we’re piggybacking on Discover PB’s Santa Run and the Holiday Parade, which is the following day.” 
Describing the event as an “awesome collaboration” between beautifulPB and Discover PB business improvement district, Victor said it has numerous objectives besides supporting sustainability, including promoting PB’s business district along Garnet as well as non-motorized travel. 
Sidewalks will be clear for strolling for holiday shopping and festivities during the event, which will also allow cafe tables to be brought outside for dining.
Presented by beautifulPB in collaboration with the PBEcoDistrict Partners, Garnet Avenue will be closed Dec. 14 between Ingraham Street and Mission Boulevard for creation of the holiday village.
Vacant retail space will be activated with local artists and makers of handmade goods for holiday shopping. There will be lots of children activities as well as festive, local music and street entertainment for all ages.  
Victor added the long-term vision for PB is to have Garnet Avenue become more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, while diverting vehicular traffic away from Garnet to Grand Avenue, which she noted is better designed for car access.
“What we’re really talking about on Garnet is a car-free, mobility-centric environment,” Victor said. “If we can induce the cars to go to Grand rather than Garnet, we can increase community-based retail on Garnet allowing business to thrive.”
The EcoDistrict Holiday Lane will also promote climate accountability and reduction of carbon dioxide gas emissions. 
In 2015, San Diego mandated a legally binding Climate Action Plan to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. Victor said the Holiday Lane is a step in that direction.
“If we want to reduce carbon gas emissions, we need to target non car-centric mobility – buses, trolleys, bicycles, pedestrians, skaters and scooters,” she said. “We need to promote multi-modal travel connecting not only our communities, but connecting communities to the commuter as well.”
For more information visit beautifulpb.com.