Good news! Metrolink will be running extra trains this Sunday so folks can get to CicLAvia - The Valley. This Sunday's event will the first CicLAvia without an on-route connection to Metro rail. Participants can bike to CicLAvia from the Metro Red Line North Hollywood Station, but that is a 7-mile ride (about three miles on the Orange Line bike path) to the southern tip of the CicLAvia route at Van Nuys Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard.
The added Metrolink service means CicLAvia participants can board trains at downtown L.A.'s Union Station, get off at Van Nuys' Metrolink Station, then bike (or walk) just 0.8 mile to CicLAvia.
Per Metro spokesperson Brett Thomas:
Metrolink will operate limited service on the Ventura County Line between Union Station and Van Nuys Station on Sunday, March 6, 2016, in support of CicLAvia - The Valley. The train will make all stops between the two stations and will offer two “Bike Cars” on each train. Ambassadors will be on the platform to guide participants to the event.
The Ventura line trains (which normally do not run on weekends) will operate on the following schedule this Sunday:
Outbound
- depart Union Station 8:55 a.m - arrive Van Nuys 9:25 a.m.
- depart Union Station 10:35 a.m. - arrive Van Nuys 11:05 a.m.
Inbound
- depart Van Nuys 2:30 p.m. - arrive Union Station 3 p.m.
- depart Van Nuys 4:00 p.m. - arrive Union Station 4:30 p.m.
Metrolink's bike cars hold dozens of bikes, but arrive early because they may well fill up this Sunday.
Bicycle tourism is alive and growing. Awesome @Metrolink job with a #bikecar to accommodate those: #mindfulmobility pic.twitter.com/qd86p9FZML
— bikecar101 (@bikecar101) January 30, 2016
In addition to the special Union Station-Van Nuys trains, the route is also fairly easy to access via the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line, which will operate regular weekend service (six trains daily) between Union Station and Lancaster. The easiest Antelope Valley Line stop is Sylmar/San Fernando Station, which is a 2.5 mile all bike path ride to the route, or cyclists can ride 4 miles from the Sun Valley Station.
For more details on getting to the route, visit Getting to the Route on the CicLAvia website.
