CicLAvia
- Details
- Category: Community News
- Published on Monday, 10 June 2013 23:26
- Written by Dawn Kirkpatrick
In Colombia, ciclovia, or bikeway in English, is a weekly event established over 30 years ago in reaction to the city of Bogota’s traffic and resulting street congestion and pollution. Streets are closed on Sundays in the city to cars and other motor vehicles during ciclovia and open to bicycles, runners and skaters. Also during this time people do such things as dance, sunbathe and practice yoga along the streets.
L.A.’s version of ciclovia, CicLAvia, was inspired by Bogota’s example and made its debut on 10.10.10. This year CicLAvia, or CicLAvia to the Sea as it was being called this year, was held for the sixth time on April 21 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The route spanned more than 15 miles and primarily used Venice Boulevard to connect the city’s historic center at El Pueblo de Los Angeles downtown to the boardwalk of Venice Beach.
Streets were closed to cars and other motor vehicles and open to bicycles, skateboarders, strollers, runners and walkers, “basically anything without a motor,” according to CicLAvia’s website.
Mid-City Neighborhod Council (MINC) organized the stop over hub for Mid-City along San Vicente Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and Pico Boulevard. L-R Michael Sonntag, Outreach Chair and organizer for the event - Lora Davis, Lawrence Klutse, Lorraine Genovese, Earnest Dominguez
Mid-City Neighborhod Council (MINC) organized the stop over hub for Mid-City along San Vicente Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and Pico Boulevard. L-R Michael Sonntag, Outreach Chair and organizer for the event - Lora Davis, Lawrence Klutse, Lorraine Genovese, Earnest Dominguez
Olympic Park Neighborhood Council (OPNC) provided the DJ, food benches and bike repair center. L-R Community Activist Gaven Glenn, OPNC President John Jake and daughter Jayla with OPNC board member Marisa Wolf.
President of West Adams Heritage Association (WAHA) John Patterson, represents! 
Mid-City Neighborhood Council community leaders Lora Davis, Valaida P. Gory and Lorraine Genovese. MINC organized and sponsored the hub that provided a respite for cyclist, walkers, skaters navigating from downtown to the ocean. "What an amazing neighborhood!" was often heard as riders stopped for refreshments and bike repair.
The Neighborhood News Editor and Publisher Dianne V. Lawrence and staff writer Dawn Kirkpatrick
Executive Director of CicLAvia, Aaron Paley
Photos by Dianne V. Lawrence