CicLAvia spreads its wheels

This October, the bicycle street celebration CicLAvia will expand its route to include even more of Los Angeles, building on the popularity of prior events. Tens of thousands of people celebrated the car-free streets last October, surprising many in a city known for its dominant automobile culture.

There are two new branches to the route. One stretches south through the Fashion District, ending at the African American Firefighter Museum on Central and 14^th Street. The other spur heads north, going through Olvera Street on its way to the heart of historic Chinatown. With these new additions, CicLAvia now boasts 10.5 miles of open streets, which will be available for walking, skating, cycling and more. That’s an increase of  three miles from the previous 7.5-mile course.

The next CicLAvia takes place October 9, and promises to bring more than biking to the added locales. The event has an increasingly celebratory atmosphere, attracting water battles, restaurant tours, marching bands and plenty of spontaneity. Stay tuned for more details as the event approaches.

Posted 8/17/11