Ciclavia: A day without cars

Re-thinking mobility and space in Los Angeles

We are currently preparing for Los Angeles’ first “open-street” Sunday. Seven and a half miles of streets will be car-free from 10 AM - 3 PM on Sunday October 10th 2010. The streets will be safe for people to walk, skate, play and ride a bike. There will be activities along the route. Shop owners and restaurants are encouraged to open their doors to people along the CicLAvia.
A Ciclovía is not just for recreation. It is social integration.
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, connecting communities and giving people a break from the stress of car traffic. The health benefits are immense. Ciclovías bring families outside of their homes to enjoy the streets, our largest public space.
In Los Angeles we need CicLAvia more than ever. Our streets are congested with traffic, our air is polluted with toxic fumes, our children suffer from obesity and other health conditions caused by the scarcity of public space and safe, healthy transportation options. CicLAvia creates a temporary park for free, simply by removing cars from city streets. It creates a network of connections between our neighborhoods and businesses and parks with corridors filled with fun. We can’t wait to see you at CicLAvia!