Yesterday’s CicLAvia, in front of the historic Dunbar Hotel on Central Avenue. Photos by Joe Linton
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Tens of thousands of Angelenos participated in yesterday's Historic South Central meets Watts CicLAvia, presented by Metro and the city of Los Angeles. The 6.25-mile open streets event closed Central Avenue to cars, opening it for bicycling, skating, running, scootering, and more.
CicLAvia's six-mile route on Central Avenue
Angelenos of all sizes, shapes, ages came together to enjoy being in public space. Kids got a taste of the independence of moving self-propelled through car-free space. Many cyclists were showing off their individualized bikes - from incredible low riders, to antique tandems, to stuffed animals in baskets transported by tiny bikes still supported by training wheels. Businesses, especially restaurants, were activated and busy. Event hubs were bustling.
These events are wonderful, community-full, perhaps even magical in their invocation of a safe healthy peaceful possible future for Los Angeles.
Rider pops a wheelie on Central during CicLAviaYoung skater on Central AvenueRunner and cyclists on Central AvenueCyclists passing the Masjid Bilal Islamic Center at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Central Avenue. Two decades ago, Los Angeles City renamed this intersection/area Malcolm X Way. This year, commemorating Malcolm X's 100th birthday, the city dedicated five miles of Crenshaw Boulevard as the Malcolm X Route.King Henry Jackson of the Real Rydaz and Kenneth - K-9 - Williams, founder of the World Riders, show off their low riders at Sunday's CicLAviaA rider and her eye-catching floral low rider bikeElaborate bicycle and trailer creation - at Sunday's Central Avenue CicLAvia CicLAvia on Central AvenueDozens of businesses along Central Avenue - mostly restaurants, but also bike shops, stores, etc. - activated their frontage to meet and engage CicLAvia participants. This happens to some extent at nearly all Southern California open streets events. It appeared to be increasing on Central Avenue, where CicLAvia has nearly become an annual occurrence.Well-used bike parking at Honduras Grill (and neighboring Tam's Burgers #24 - just to the right of the photo) during CicLAvia More CicLAvia business activation along Central AvenueRecently opened affordable/supportive housing complex at 2106 Central Avenue
Readers - how was your Central Avenue CicLAvia yesterday?
City council knew rerouting wouldn’t please everyone, but eventually it passed 4-0. The bus network reconfiguration is projected to increase ridership 19%.
