Planned CicLAvia Route for 10-10-10 – *was September 12th 2010

CicLAvia has been working a lot with city of Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, and city departments including Transportation, Police, Public Works, Fire, and Sanitation… and we’re nearly permitted for our route for the L.A.’s first ever CicLAvia from 10am to 3pm on Sunday September 12th OCTOBER 10th 2010.

Some sharp-eyed readers spotted this new route map on our video at Kickstarter. If you haven’t watched the video… what are you waiting for? Here it is in a full-color printable version – click on the image or here to download it as a pdf:

CicLAvia in September - 7 miles from Boyle Heights to East Hollywood - details below

We think it’s about 98% certain that this route will be the final route… but it could change some. The route is explained section by section below – including an explanation of the “soft closures” at many major streets.

We’ve been meeting with city council members, neighborhood councils, government agencies, some key businesses… but we’re just starting to get the word out to all the folks that live, work, recreate, attend church, etc. along the route. Most of them are unaware of this route today. Over the next month or so, we’ll be contacting all these folks, inviting them to participate and letting them know how the planned street closure might impact them.

The route below is planned for September 12th 2010 10-10-10. We anticipate doing one CicLAvia event this year, then assessing its strengths and weaknesses, and planning to host more, hopefully half a dozen monthly CicLAvia events in 2011, probably in various Los Angeles neighborhoods. So, if you don’t see what you want here, let us know and maybe we’ll be in your neck of the woods soon.

The little yellow bridges are the Soft Closures - these are at Beverly and at Vermont

The little yellow and red bridges that appear on the map are “soft closures.” At most streets that intersect the CicLAvia route, cars cannot cross the CicLAvia. At many big streets, the CicLAvia takes turns and allows cross traffic to pass. It’s similar to the Third Street Promenade in the city of Santa Monica. When pedestrians have the light they cross. While the light is red for the CicLAvia, buses and cars can cross. There will be both city law enforcement officers and volunteers present to help these crossing points function smoothly. They’re done at various cities around the world, but it’s a relatively new thing for the city of Los Angeles.

From east to west, below is our planned route in three easy chunks. Note that, unlike a ride or a marathon, CicLAvia doesn’t really have a direction. The route doesn’t “start” or “end” anywhere. Folks can walk or bike whatever direction they choose, start and end anywhere, and can go back and forth as often as they desire – from 10am to 3pm.

EAST HOLLYWOOD to MACARTHUR PARK

The easternmost point on the route is informally known as  the Bicycle District or “Hel-Mel” (for Heliotrope and Melrose) located in back of Los Angeles City College. The route goes from Hel-Mel south on Heliotrope Drive crossing under the 101 Freeway. Then it turns east on Rosewood Avenue, then south on New Hampshire Avenue. It includes a soft closure where New Hampshire crosses Beverly Boulevard. It turns east at 4th Street, with a soft closure at Vermont Avenue, and passes along Shatto Park. It turns south on Virgil Avenue then east on 6th Street, crossing along LaFayette Park. At MacArthur Park it turns south onto Park View Street.  This part of the route is easily accessed via the Metro Red Line Beverly/Vermont Station.

MACARTHUR PARK to CITY HALL

The route hugs MacArthur Park on the east and south – Park View Drive and 7th Street, respectively, with soft closures on both Wilshire Boulevard and Alvarado Street. It continues east though Pico Union on 7th Street, crossing over the 110 Freeway and into Downtown Los Angeles, with soft closures downtown at Figueroa Street, Grand Avenue and Broadway. The route turns north onto Main Street Spring Street, which is normally one-way southbound, but will host two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic that day. On Main, there’s a soft closure at 2nd Street. This part of the route is easily accessible from the Metro Blue Line 7th Street Station, and from four Metro Red Line stations.

CITY HALL to HOLLENBECK PARK

From City Hall, the route heads east on 1st Street – into Little Tokyo. It turns south on Central Avenue, then east on 4th Street, with a soft closure at 4th and Alameda Street. 4th is normally one-way eastbound, but will include 2-way bike/ped traffic that day. The route crosses the L.A. River on the historic 4th Street Bridge and enters Boyle Heights, extending under the 101 and 5 Freeways, and all the way to 4th and Saint Louis Street, where folks can rest at Hollenbeck Park. This portion of the route is easy to access via the Metro Gold Line, especially the 1st Street/Little Tokyo/Arts District station at 1st and Alameda.

What do you think?? Give us your comments below!