| Ride the Rails: History, Architecture, and Hollywood Lore in Downtown L.A. All Aboard! A fantastic bicycle journey of the most landmark rail and trolley lines throughout Downtown Los Angeles is traveling your way on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 9:45am. Bicyclists of all ages and skill levels are invited to join this leisurely paced ride as we tour legendary locations in both Hollywood films and history books. The League Certified cycling instructors of C.I.C.L.E. are partnering with M.T.A., Angels Flight Railway Foundation, Angeleno Heights Trolley Line, and California State Parks to bring riders an intriguing, one-of-a-kind ‘Urban Expeditions’ enjoyable to the historian, bicyclist and film critic alike. Known as the ‘Last of the Great Railway Stations’ and the backdrop to hundreds of films, the architecturally ornate Los Angeles Union Station will be the first stop on this bicycle trip. Next stop- Angels Flight. Hailed as the ‘Shortest Railway in the World’, Angels Flight, built in 1901, has triumphed through redevelopment and tragedy for over a century. Riders will also celebrate its re-opening this year with the original cars, Sinai and Olivet, after a 12 year hiatus. Traveling right along, we head to Angelino Heights for a look at the Victorian Queen Anne architecture and oldest trolley line in Los Angeles. Second to only Bunker Hill, Angelino Heights is the oldest district in Los Angeles. Angelino Heights was connected to downtown L.A. along Temple St. by a small cable car line and later an electric streetcar. Last stop is the Los Angeles State Historic Park, home to many things including the Southern Pacific Railroad’s River Station in 1875 which packed a waterwheel, Pacific Hotel, freight yard, passenger station and much more on the once river-front property. This ride is a recreational social event open to all skill levels. The ride will begin at Union Station located at 800 N. Alameda St. and wind through the streets of Downtown Los Angeles. The pace of the ride is relaxed, and please take note that this ride does contain moderate hills. The ride is lead by experienced cyclists. The ride will end at Union Station. Riders are reminded to bring water and have their bikes inspected for safety. ‘Ride the Rails’ is a part of Urban Expeditions program, a monthly ride series of community-focused bicycle rides aimed at getting people out of their cars and onto their bikes for a cleaner, greener city. The Urban Expeditions series is made possible, in part, with support REI. |