Crime & Safety
Thousands Bike, Skate, Stroll to Venice in CicLAvia
Venice Beach drew bicyclists and walkers, young and old, in the downtown-to-sea event Sunday.
Tens of thousands of people on or in people-powered wheeled vehicles thronged onto Venice Boulevard and three downtown-area streets Sunday.
By late afternoon, a large number of bicyclists remained on Venice Boulevard, particularly in the western part of the city near Venice Beach, according to firefighters.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa used the sixth CicLAvia event to promote L.A. as a car-free tourist attraction.
Find out what's happening in Venice-Mar Vistawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Los Angeles Tourism and & Convention Board is launching a new campaign called "Car Free LA,'' the mayor announced before pedaling off down a
car-free Venice Boulevard.
"Los Angeles has truly become a car-free destination'' for tourists,
the mayor proclaimed. "One of the best ways to explore our city is without a car, and LA Tourism's new initiative will help tourists share this experience.''
Find out what's happening in Venice-Mar Vistawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
CicLAvia meant blocked off motorized traffic lanes along 15 miles of Main, Seventh and Alvarado streets, and then Venice Boulevard, between Union Station and Venice Beach. Bicycles, baby carriages, roller skates and strange hybrid contraptions were given control of the streets, so long as they had no motors.
Paramedic units reported the usual number of falls and scrapes.
Motorized vehicles were allowed to cross the "CiLAvia To The Sea'' route at 29 crossover intersections, or on four freeways.
In his seven years and nine months as mayor, the City of Los Angeles has installed 165 lane miles of bike lanes, opened four major transit lines or extensions and started construction on four others.
"Eight years ago, the idea of visiting Los Angeles without a car would have seemed impossible, but with the leadership of Mayor Villaraigosa, our city has changed,'' said Aaron paley, executive director of CicLAvia.
That organization imported the CicLAvia concept from Bogota, Colombia, where major streets are routinely closed to vehicles and reserved for bikes on Sundays. It sponsors the street closures, and arranged for public entertainment and cultural events along the route.
