Explore LA, in a way you never have before- FREE – CicLAvia

Happy Friday Folks – Just a quickie as there’s a break in the rain and I have to load up our bikes for a check up with the cycle doc, in preparation for the much anticipated CicLAvia this Sunday.

What’s that you don’t know of CicLAvia?  Well you’re in for a treat.

Downtown LA must be one of the most well-kept yet largest secrets in southern California and CicLAvia allows a rare opportunity to explore car free!

CicLAvia temporarily removes cars from L.A. streets – and the streets fill up with smiles!

This Sunday marks the 4^th of these hugely successful CicLAvias in Los Angeles (10/10/10, 4/10/11 and 10/9/11), there will be 10 miles of streets completely car-free from 10 AM – 3 PM on, with new spurs added to El Pueblo/Olvera Street and South LA.

CicLAvia makes the streets  safe for people to walk, skate, play and ride a bike. There are activities along the route. Shop owners and restaurants are encouraged to open their doors to people along the CicLAvia.

Ciclovías started in Bogotá, Colombia, over thirty years ago as a response to the congestion and pollution of city streets. Now they happen throughout Latin America and the United States

What makes LA’s so unique is for many native Angelinos it may be the only time in the year that they visit downtown. Much maligned but largely ignored downtown Los Angeles boasts world class symphony, theater, opera, dance as well gourmet dining and some amazing shopping.

Downtown boasts a number of wholesale districts where many sores will sell discounted items to the public too. Divided into districts, fashion, flower, fabric, jewelry, toy, even beads! For movie buffs check out The Bradbury buildings wrought impressive wrought iron interior (Blade Runner)

Kids enjoy a quick ( I do mean quick) trip on “The Shortest Railway in the World.” At Angels Flight just 50 cents board one of the two orange and black incline railway cars and ride  This funicular which  dates back to 1901, when Bunker Hill was one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in Los Angeles As short as it is (298 feet),  it is an essential Los Angeles experience.

The Angels Flight^® Railway connects 351 South Hill Street with the California Plaza Watercourt at 350 South Grand Avenue

For five glorious hours on Sunday 10 miles of Los Angeles will be car free, the only gangs roving, are packs of boy scouts & mariachi bands that frequent Olver Street

One of the oldest parts of downtown LA it boasts some of the best Mexican eateries in LA. The restaurants are all delicious & the people are super friendly, we particularly like the El Paseo Inn but there are many to chose from.
There are many historic sites such as the first firehouse and a beautiful church on this street which makes it a great place to learn about the wonderful city in which we live, it’s historic, beautiful and fun.

The rain will have finished washing the streets and left them dust free leaving cool fresh air perfect for a cycle with a Sunday forecast of a sunny high of 67 and 0% precipitation.

What to bring: reusable water bottle, hat/helmet, sun sleeves, bike, skateboard, roller blades, camera and some big smiles and Join us for some fabulous pedal action!

With petrol prices at an all time high the timing is perfect for a bike ride as you won’t need to be burning fossil fuel.

Bike rental options are currently rather limited in Los Angeles. If you don’t have a bike, you can walk, run, skate, scooter – bikes not required. Here are the near-route bike shops that we know of that do bike rental. Call ahead, pay for your reservation in advance, because these rentals sell out.

• Downtown L.A. Bicycles – 1626 S. Hill Street (at Venice Blvd), Downtown L.A.
• DTLA Bikes – 425 S. Broadway (at 4th St), Downtown L.A.
• Flying Pigeon – 3714 N. Figueroa (at Marmion Way), Highland Park

More info and direction http://www.ciclavia.org/directions/