Ciclavia is coming back to Los Angeles on Sunday. That’s when the city closes seven-and-a-half miles of streets to cars and opens them to cyclists and pedestrians.
"For five hours, seven-and-a-half miles of L.A. streets will be car free," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, standing behind a bicycle on the steps of City Hall. The line drew applause from many city officials and bicycle activists
The idea was born more than 30 years ago in Bogota, Colombia, and it happens every Sunday there. Auto-packed L.A. only got around to trying it last October.
More than 100,000 Angelenos filled the carless streets on bikes, skateboards and on foot. Many shops and restaurants stayed open.
"One incredible thing I saw was a 5-year-old kid, riding a bike for the first time – but in the streets of downtown Los Angeles," said Bobby Gadda, who co-founded Los Angeles' CicLAvia. "That’s something you just don’t see everyday."
CicLAvia’s route goes through Downtown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Westlake, East Hollywood and Boyle Heights, closing certain streets to cars between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
"We’re trying to make CicLAvia an everyday event here in city of Los Angeles," said Amir Sedadi, the interim general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. "It’s not all about automobiles any more. We have to share it with pedestrians, with bicyclists, and really have a healthy way of going about our business."
Star cyclist Lance Armstrong is expected to kick off the event in Little Tokyo Sunday morning at 9:30.
