CicLAvia Spins Through Mid-City

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Category: LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Published on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 15:21

Written by Dawn Kirkpatrick

What’s one thing Bogota, Colombia and Los Angeles, California have in common? Ciclovia or CicLAvia as it’s called in L.A.

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 is being called this year, will be held for the sixth time on April 21 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The route this year spans more than 15 miles and primarily uses Venice Blvd. to connect the city’s historic center at El Pueblo de Los Angeles downtown to the boardwalk of Venice Beach. Streets will be closed to cars and other motor vehicles and will be open to bicycles, skateboarders, strollers, runners and walkers, “basically anything without a motor,” according to CicLAvia’s website. Functional cross streets are indicated on the map on the ad on our inside cover.

There will also be several hubs along the route offering information and various services. MidCity Neighborhod Council (MINC) will be joining other local vendors in the parking lot by the bowling alley on San Vicente between Venice and Pico. And remember, CicLAvia is not a race. It’s a free event open to all who want to take part in the fun.

For more information about this year’s CicLAvia, visit the CicLAvia website.