After 32 CicLAvias, it’s increasingly difficult to rank the best ones, but I’d have to say this is among my top five favorites. This route definitely had the most tourist attractions, bars, restaurants, and stores. My posse must have passed thirty of my favorite restaurants before settling on Kitchen 24 in West Hollywood for brunch. Kudos to the CicLAvia team for doing the planning and outreach.

The biggest takeaway from the Meet The Hollywoods is the need to pedestrianize Hollywood and Highland. My favorite moment Sunday was the simple joy of standing in the middle of Hollywood and enjoying the space without the fear of being run over by distracted German tourists. (The only time I was hit by a car while riding my bike was on Hollywood Blvd when a distracted German tourist drove through a red light twenty years ago.) Thanks to movie premiers, award shows, and concerts, Hollywood and Highland is already the most detoured intersection in Los Angeles, let’s just make it permanent. Forty years ago, when Hollywood’s Council Woman, Peggy Stevenson first proposed pedestrianizing Hollywood, the plan was abandoned due to opposition from local businesses who bought into the fallacy that people have to drive to shop. At that same time, Santa Monica went forward with closing 3rd Street to cars, and we know today how well that turned out. Hopefully after the demonstrated success of Sunday’s CicLAvia, local businesses may be more welcoming to dedicating Hollywood Blvd for people, instead of cars. It is time for Council Member, Mitch O’Farrell to pick up where Peggy Stevenson left off.