Tag Archives: MacArthur Park

CicLAvia October 7, 2012

Here’s a fun post. Los Angeles hosts these CicLAvia events about twice a year. It’s an opportunity for citizens to rediscover their city up close and on a bike, on a skateboard, skates or on foot.

Variations of this event happen in cities all over but in L.A. it involves closing streets to vehicles for a set period on a Sunday. The route usually starts and ends at a civic focal point, in the case on October 7, it was subway and light rail stations linking MacArthur Park, Downtown LA, East LA, and Exposition Park (the new Exposition Line).

I had a great time on bikes with friends Meredith and Marshal, who I lost, then with friends Chris, Liz and Tom, who I did not lose. We even had a light sushi lunch in Little Tokyo. Really, an L.A. Day at its best. Enjoy the photos.

CicLAvia final route for October, 2012

Share

CicLAvia 2011: Bicycles, strollers, skateboards, Occupy LA

CicLAvia October 2011:  What fun. What a beautiful day to close off streets for people, and to keep cars away! I joined the thousands of folks on bikes, skateboards, with strollers, walking, running, hanging out, etc. on routes that stretched from East Hollywood to East LA, through Downtown and Little Tokyo and even Chinatown.

It was great, as always, to take in the diversity that is LA. To see the street art and other murals. To hear the musicians. Even to witness the bafflement of residents who picked up on the idea that something out of the ordinary was going on. Smiling cops with relaxed expressions. A good event for OccupyLA to get awareness for, as the route passed right in front of the occupation encampment at City Hall. So much more, that you never would see driving down the street in your car.

The CicLAvia route ended on the east at Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights. I don’t think I’ve ever been there before. I went a little further south to take a couple of snaps of the Linda Vista Hospital, site of a great Ghost Adventures episode. Spooky! Even in the bright sunshine.

I’m now collapsed after riding all that way and back. Also it’s the perfect end for a carfree week, as I took the bike on the Red Line train to the Sunset/Santa Monica stop to do the CicLAvia route.

Enjoy the pix!

Share