News Summary

The CicLAvia street festival celebrated its 15th anniversary in Los Angeles with the event ‘CicLAvia — Heart of LA.’ The festival featured a 7.15-mile route through downtown, promoting car-free streets and encouraging various modes of transportation. Thousands participated, enjoying activities and multiple hubs set up along the route. Future events, including an open streets day on Melrose Avenue, are planned, continuing the initiative’s goal of enhancing community engagement and promoting healthier lifestyles in the urban environment.

Los Angeles

The CicLAvia street festival made a vibrant return to Los Angeles on Sunday, celebrating its 15th anniversary with the event titled CicLAvia — Heart of LA. The festival ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured a 7.15-mile route that spanned across downtown Los Angeles, fully closing major streets to motorized vehicle traffic for the day. Thousands of participants took to the streets on foot, bicycles, and other people-powered vehicles to enjoy the festivities.

CicLAvia is a nonprofit initiative designed to promote car-free streets in Los Angeles since its inception in 2010. This event marked the organization’s 63rd open streets event, allowing attendees to explore the city without the usual congestion caused by vehicles. Only people-powered modes of transport like bicycles and skateboards were permitted, while non-people-powered vehicles, such as electric scooters and electric skateboards, were strictly prohibited.

Future CicLAvia events are already in the queue, with the next open streets event scheduled for November 23 on Melrose Avenue between Vermont Avenue and Fairfax Street. Throughout the festival, multiple activity hubs were set up along the route, providing family-friendly attractions, restrooms, free water refilling stations, basic bike repair services, bike parking, and first aid facilities. Additionally, free pedicab rides were made available at each hub’s information booth for those needing assistance.

Event Features and Accessibility

The event was designed to allow access via various forms of transportation, with no designated starting or ending point, encouraging exploration of downtown Los Angeles. Participants were treated to a variety of activities and displays, including a special exhibit commemorating 15 years of CicLAvia, showcasing memorabilia and maps at the Norma Dorsey Museum.

Community Engagement

The executive director of CicLAvia noted the event’s ability to evoke nostalgia while also introducing new experiences for attendees, emphasizing the festival’s goal of encouraging community engagement and fostering connections among participants. E-bikes were permitted under certain conditions, although specific classes faced additional restrictions during the event.

Background of CicLAvia

Inspired by Bogotá’s ciclovía, CicLAvia has been transforming the streets of Los Angeles into vibrant spaces for walking, biking, and community connection for over a decade. The initiative aims to foster a healthier lifestyle and greater appreciation of the urban environment by temporarily removing cars from major thoroughfares. CicLAvia not only provides an opportunity for recreation and exercise but also enhances community involvement by creating a unique atmosphere for people to engage with the city.

The festival not only commemorated past achievements but also laid the groundwork for future events aimed at improving the car-free experience in Los Angeles, inviting participation from all city residents and visitors.

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Additional Resources

• My News LA: CicLAvia Hosts 63rd Open Streets Event
• California News: This Month’s CicLAvia
• LAist: CicLAvia Boyle Heights Street Closures
• Wikipedia: Ciclovía
• NBC Los Angeles: Ditch Your Car for CicLAvia
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Los Angeles
• Boyle Heights Beat: Where to Eat on CicLAvia Route
• Google Search: CicLAvia Los Angeles

Author: STAFF HERE HOLLYWOOD

The Hollywood Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HEREHollywood.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Hollywood, Los Angeles County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Hollywood Bowl summer concerts, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, film premieres at TCL Chinese Theatre, and festivals at the Magic Castle. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Visit Hollywood, plus leading businesses in entertainment, dining, and tourism that define the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELosAngeles.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HEREAnaheim.com, and HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.