On an average day for the average person biking in LA is not easy. There is traffic to navigate and distance to cover. At CicLAvia (Inspired by Bogotá’s weekly ciclovía) restrictions fade and we experience a glimpse at what Los Angeles could be like if our city was car free. We see neighborhoods that are walkable, bikeable, skateable, and danceable. Add a big street party with local food, culture and play. That’s CicLAvia.
While biking we see the city at a more intimate scale than driving and notice details that are typically a blur. We visit multiple neighborhoods and can compare and contrast local histories, culture, food, art, music and architecture. Walking allows us to slow down even more as we connect to people and new businesses throughout Los Angeles diverse communities.
Many attendees dress up in costumes, customize their bikes, and swing down the street to music blasting from their speakers. CicLAvia hubs host activity kiosks, food trucks, bike repair, art exhibits, and citizen science research. They offer places to relax, interact and play.
We have attended many CicLAvia's over the decade and have seen that each CicLAvia event has its own flair. At the Heart of LA we experienced 5 very distinct neighborhoods from Boyle Heights to MacArthur Park, with Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Downtown LA in between. At Meet the Hollywoods we traveled through the classic sites of Hollywood Blvd to rainbow balloon covered western neighbor.
At Culver City to Venice, we passed though Palms, Mar Vista, engaged in pop-up play installations and to rested on the soft sand while watching the ocean. In Pacoima we watched dance performers, viewed street art, and gave our two cents on how we could improve LA and the world. Over the years the number of routes has grown and so has its popularity and the participation attendees. North Hollywood, Iconic Wilshire Blvd, Glendale, Atwater, Pasadena, South LA, the Valley, Willington, Mid-city, Pico Union. All offering distinct experiences.
The streets typically close from 9 AM to around 4. No matter how early we start or how long the route there is never enough time. We always want more and wait in anticipation for next one.
