CicLAvia Returns for a Third Spin

Bicyclists, skateboarders, roller-bladers, and other non-motorized vehicles will be able to take Los Angeles city streets for a spin—car free --  when CicLAvia returns for a third time this Sunday.

More than 100,000 people are expected to explore the 10 mile route that traverses the city from Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights through Downtown and into East Hollywood.

"We want the public to fall in love with the city again," Aaron Paley, Producer and co-founder of  CicLAvia said. "We want Angelinos to explore their city in ways that are completely different from their normal experience."

Sunday's route adds two new spurs to the event's previous 7.5 mile course which was held in April-- one from City Hall to El Pueblo de Los Angeles and another through the Fashion District.

In addition, CicLAvia has also launched CicLAvia Walks, a new program that encourages participants to slow down and discover local architectural, cultural, and culinary hot spots along the route.

Paley said the events and the route are an opportunity for the public to explore the entire city as opposed to going from one end to the other.

 "It creates a new park that exists for a bit of time then goes away," Paley said. "It creates a park space without the investment."

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said CicLAvia is part of a larger plan to integrate open space, cycling and public transportation into the public's everyday lives.

"We have already set in motion our new Citywide Bicycle Plan to build over 1600 miles of bike lanes, paths, routes and bike-friendly streets across LA," Villaraigosa said. "And we are already seeing the results -- we recently completed 20 miles of sharrows along City streets and opened new bike lanes on 1st and 7th streets that will be part of the CicLAvia route."

For the motorized public traveling through the area, Paley said there would be "as little disruption as possible to traffic." Vehicles will be allowed to cross the event's course at 18 points, with most drivers having to detour a block or two, he said.

Fundraising and support for the event has doubled in six months, Paley said. The Los Angeles City Council allocated $200,000 this fiscal year.

The organization hopes to expand the idea into other areas including USC, Santa Monica via Culver City, and further east into Boyle Heights to accommodate larger crowds. Long Beach and the San Fernando Valley are also under consideration.

CicLAvia is a partnership of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the City of Los Angeles, and the CicLAvia organization.

The event is free to the public and ends at 3:00 p.m.