Mardi Gras 2024 Gets a Purple Makeover

New Orleans, February 6th, 2024 – This Mardi Gras, New Orleans is celebrating the unveiling of The Purple Way, a safe and festive way to walk, bike, and roll throughout Carnival season! Utilizing New Orleans’ existing network of bicycle infrastructure and complete streets, The Purple Way is a route recommended by Bike Easy for folks to safely and conveniently walk, bike, and roll to and from Uptown parades and the French Quarter. Whether you're a seasoned reveler or a first-time visitor, the Purple Way promises a Mardi Gras experience filled with fun, safety, and community spirit.

“Friends of Lafitte Greenway encourages people going to Mardi Gras festivities on foot or bike to take the Purple Way. The Lafitte Greenway offers an off-street bike and pedestrian trail to get you and your friends to the French Quarter. It’s the busiest time of the year on the Greenway, and we hope to see you on the trail!” -Alexis Marceuax, Community Relations Manager, Friends of Lafitte Greenway.

Mardi Gras provides a unique opportunity to create shared public spaces that foster inclusivity and celebration.

“During Carnival, more than ever, the whole community is using our streets,” said Nellie Catzen, Co-Chair of the New Orleans Complete Streets Coalition, “This is a fantastic opportunity to consider how we all can walk, roll, parade, and ride safely together in our busiest season. The Complete Streets Coalition envisions a future where our streets are safe and accessible no matter how you travel, all year round. This is one concrete step that gets us a little closer to that vision.”

Additionally, the Purple Way makes it easier than ever to hop on two wheels during Carnival.

“At Bike Easy we strive to make biking easy, safe, and fun for everyone in Greater New Orleans. We recognize that carnival season draws a massive amount of people in our city, making biking and walking the most convenient ways to get around. However, the more people in the streets, the more variables and issues may arise, so with your safety in mind we’ve put together a series of resources, including suggested routes for you to safely walk, bike & roll this season!”

“With locals taking over 70% of all Blue Bikes trips last year, folks who live in New Orleans know that biking is one of the best ways to enjoy Mardi Gras,” said Patrick Urbine, the Community Engagement Manager for Blue Krewe, the local non-profit that operates and Manages Blue Bikes. “This year, we are excited for our riders to be able to utilize the Purple Way as a recommended route to safely and conveniently head to work, parades, or wherever Mardi Gras takes you.”

So, why choose the Purple Way? Here are just a few reasons:

• Mardi Gras safety comes first: Utilize the City of New Orleans’ existing bicycle
  network
• Bid farewell to traffic hassles: Leave the gridlock behind and experience a smooth,
  stress-free journey.
• Breathe easy, celebrate green: Reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more
  sustainable Mardi Gras.

This Mardi Gras, choose the Purple Way. Walk, bike, and roll your way to a safer, greener, and
more joyful celebration. Let's paint the town purple, one vibrant step at a time!