StreetPoll: Pick the Best “Fantasy CicLAvia” Route

Winner of this poll get a Streetsblog t-shirt or “Best of LA Streetfilms” DVD.  For more details, visit this post from Friday.

Pick the Best Fantasy CicLAvia route

View Results

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  • UrbanReason

    I voted for Wilshire, but I’d love to see one or two north/south connectors. For instance – the length of Wilshire PLUS the length of Robertson & a connecting north/south stretch of Western. When you factor in the strand & ballona creek, this would make the route accessible by bike from many more parts of the city.

  • Joseph E

    Re: “Extend the original route west to Crenshaw & Exposition, and from Downtown go up broadway to Pasadena. End at Hertiage Square (near Flying Pigeon / Bike Oven)”

    This wasn’t actually what I meant, but that’s okay. This would be a great route too!

  • Carter R

    Good point Urban Reason, there’s really no reason we couldn’t do a giant “t shape” or an “x shape.”

    How about Wilshire all the way with San Vicente cutting through Mid-Town from Sunset to Venice?

  • Joseph E

    Really, there are so many good choices. But in case you are wondering, here is the exact route for this one: all the way from Highland Park to La Cienega, via N Figueroa, Pasadena, N Broadway, Alameda, 1st, S Broadway, 7th, S Figueroa, USC, and Jefferson: http://tinyurl.com/2579vwj

    If we can do a route this long (14 miles), I think it would be a great way to showcase the new Expo line next year (which will have opened to La Cienega by the end of 2011, but possibly as early as August), and getting people to check out South LA and Midtown, as well as North-East LA.

  • UrbanReason

    Here’s my idea regarding north/south connections, and including two east/west legs. Yeah, I know 50 miles is crazy to most people, but this whole thing is about fantasy and I think this would be INCREDIBLE.

    http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=
    109825181570015046545.000492e9daed1f44b329a

  • UrbanReason

    Whoops, the actual link didn’t finish up there. Try this:

    http://tinyurl.com/UrbanReasonFantasyCiclavia

  • UrbanReason

    @CarterR yeah, utilizing San Vicente would be bad-ass too! A great connector that’s not quite as daunting as my 50 mile grid. :)

  • Spokker is a fairly frequent joker, so I’m fairly certain his subway cicLAvia was meant as such.

    So, my only question is, why are there more votes for shutting down the Red Line than for Vermont or Crenshaw?

  • @james

    I take since the title of the post indicates “Fantasy” route that would include ideas such as closing the red line and IMHO closing down the entire length of Wilshire would be a fantasy too.

  • Point made, dude :)

    Still, not all fantasies are built equal….

  • Joseph E

    I voted for my idea, but opening up Wilshire or Vermont would be awesome. I’m not sure where we would re-route the buses, however.

  • Spokker

    “So, my only question is, why are there more votes for shutting down the Red Line than for Vermont or Crenshaw?”

    Joke suggestions beget joke votes.

  • The first CicLAvia was a smashing success, but lest it fall into the usual pattern of giving transportation options to the wealthy, while overlooking the poor — it is time for CicLAvia to plant its signs and its roots into historic South LA. Streets such as Crenshaw and areas of the Figueroa Corridor, to name a couple examples, speak to the existence of a rich, vibrant community of color that is often looked by transportation experts who decry Los Angeles’ car-driven culture. But the truth is that the most bus, walk, and bike-dependent communities are also the ones most often ignored by those who say we need to change the way we move L.A. This makes no sense. Shouldn’t we cater to the population that needs bike advocacy the most? Rather than the communities that already have the most options?
    Health is another reason to consider South L.A. Along with fighting against poverty and the inevitable food desert, Black and Latin@ populations in South LA are especially plagued with health risks such as diabetes and obesity — part of this is because the neighborhoods in South LA are not the most livable. Many blocks along South LA lack resources, and as such, the streets and areas aren’t made for healthy living; they aren’t conducive to exercise. By bringing CicLAvia to South LA we can assist the many existing bicyclists who are fighting crowded road conditions and dilapidated sidewalks. It’s dangerous to ride a bike in many parts of South LA, and not because of crime statistics, but because there isn’t room for a bike except on pot-holed/obstacle-filled sidewalks.
    Let’s consider environmental justice and full public participation by figuring out which communities need the bike stimulus package of CicLAvia. And I’m not talking trickle-down bikeonomics. A bicycle is a populist symbol and something many of us can own. It’s not as expensive as a car, but with the right road conditions it can bring us everywhere and give us a healthy outlook too. Through CicLAvia — we can encourage merchants and neighbors to interact, and bring richness to an area without bringing in high-end stores, displacing local residents, and gentrifying shamelessly. We can also do something far more valuable — we can open up the imagination and space of CicLAvia for local South LA residents who lack convenient transit access compared to the Westside and wealthier, whiter areas of L.A. South LA is the heart and pulse of L.A. — with a long history of both politics, art, and revolution. If CicLAvia represents change, then change should begin where it is most needed and where it can make the biggest impact.

  • Let’s also not fall into the trap of thinking that South L.A. is the only diverse and underserved part of the city. The 2010 CicLAvia route included Boyle Heights, Pico Union, Westlake and East Hollywood. These are not wealthy or privileged enclaves and they are by no means culturally or ethnically homogenous. Joseph E’s route travels through NELA and South L.A. and doesn’t appear to spend much time in privileged or homogenous communities either (it uses Pasadena as a direction, but doesn’t actually go there).

    I suspect an issue with the Vermont/Crenshaw options in the poll is that using the full length of those very very long streets (25 miles or so) may not be worthwhile. IMO, neither of those streets is very interesting once you get south of Slauson or perhaps Manchester (though I’m sure others disagree), and there’d still be a ton of route left at that point. Additionally, I believe they both run through a few other cities as they head south, which might prove logistically difficult.

    Vermont from Los Feliz to Slauson would be a great route, especially if it took a few scenic turns here and there. Same for Figueroa. Though most of Crenshaw north of the 10 doesn’t seem all that interesting to me, I’m sure someone could prove me wrong.

  • Spokker

    I’ve been to a street fair on Crenshaw before. It started near where the Expo Line is being constructed now and continued South for a few blocks.

    I think it was some kind of soul or jazz fest.

    Interesting? I don’t know, but is that necessarily the entire point? I think the primary goal is to get people cycling and walking.

  • Spokker, I feel there’s a lot of interesting stuff on Crenshaw from the 10 south to Slauson or so, but that’s not a very long route. West Adams, Crenshaw, View Park and especially Leimert Park are neighborhoods whose landmarks and history are well worth exploring, IMHO. To a large extent those neighborhoods are solidly middle class (and beyond), so it would probably be less of an exploration of underprivileged/underserved parts of L.A. than the 2010 ride was.

  • graciela.

    I can’t believe Wilshire is in the lead. There are long portions that are so poorly maintained it feels like you’re mogul skiing on your bike. I hate riding on that street.

    Besides, I don’t think LA would ever close down Wilshire for CicLAvia. :-)

  • James Beaumont

    Hi, this is James of the “length of Hollywood Blvd” route. While I still think mine is the “best” idea kudos to everyone else for coming up with other mega-intriguing scenarios.

    ESPECIALLY, I like the “close Wilshire” idea TONS, but, I don’t think that is feasible. AND, as someone who rode from downtown all the way to Bundy via Wilshire last week. The condition of Wilshire in certain areas, espcially when you exit downtown, is absolutely horrendous and the LADOT should be ashamed. If some miracle occurred where the powers that be allowed WIlshire to be shut down for 8 hours, the road would be need to fixed first. Or it would be a full-suspension only Ciclavia!

  • James Beaumont

    @Gracie Just saw your post after I wrote my comment. Exactly!

  • UrbanReason

    Why are there so many naysayers around here? I don’t like the idea that we write our most ambitious ideas off with the assumption that it could never happen because of the way we believe people to be. It’s the same mentality that compels public figures to dismiss things like bike infrastructure and subways because “we’re a car culture, that’s just what we are, and that’ll never change”.

    I think we should stop saying things like “that’ll never happen” and start saying things like “hell yeah, let’s do it.” Things like shutting down a major vein for playing in the streets takes determination and the belief that while it may be challenging – it IS possible.

    I believe it’s possible to shut down way more streets than have been suggested – and why just do one of the suggestions above? Why note all of them at once?

    Just my opinion. And don’t worry I’m prepared for all the laughter and condescending remarks that will inevitably follow this statement.

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