Stories

We partnered with an incredible team at Designing in Color to make our birthday event, CicLAvia–Heart of LA, truly memorable (and photographable).

This collective of award-winning architects and designers created a mobile, interactive art installation titled ‘10/10: Celebrate the Streets.' It recognizes the neighborhoods we've visited together across a decade and more of open streets Sundays.

It was incredible to mark another year of open streets in the heart of Los Angeles. We biked, walked, jogged, skated, and danced our way across 6 miles of open streets together.

This all began with one big question: "What would happen if LA streets were closed to cars for a day – and opened up to people?"

Ready to enjoy six miles of open streets in downtown Los Angeles – and celebrate our 10/10 birthday together? Find art, architecture, city landmarks, and a lot of food across the CicLAvia—Heart of LA route! There will be things to see everywhere, but we’re highlighting a select few that you may not want to miss.

Our first event back was an incredible success – and it gave us a taste of what's to come.

We found so much joy and community throughout Wilmington on August 15. From Banning Park to the Wilmington Waterfront, it was a wonderful experience to see smiling faces (masks and all!) enjoying open streets together again. It was our 36th event, but in many ways it felt like a "first": our first journey back to the streets in over a year, and for a lot of Angelenos discovering new activities this year it was their first CicLAvia ever.

On Sunday, August 15, we are kicking off CicLAvia–Wilmington! Over two miles of streets will be open for walking, biking, rolling, dancing, spectating, and rejoicing. If you've never attended a CicLAvia event, this is a great place to start: there is no entrance or exit, and no need to have a bicycle or ability level. This event (like all our events) is for you to enjoy the open, spacious streets free of cars.

There's an incredible amount of art and history along this route – you won't want to miss it.

Los Angeles benefits in myriad ways from the contributions and influence of the AAPI community. We see it in the fabric of our city – and we get to experience it on the streets. During Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we look back at how CicLAvia events have connected neighbors to the rich history, art, culture, and people all around them.

These photos offer a few glimpses of how the AAPI community has touched countless regions throughout LA.

What if everything was just a 20-minute trip away, without needing a car?

Eugene, OR, is one of several cities across the country trying to give more people the chance to reach everything they need within a 20-minute walk or a short bike ride. The city is pushing several initiatives to promote “20-minute living,” the ability to reach important destinations like grocery stores and workplaces within that time frame.

While our team is hard at work planning future CicLAvia events, we are capitalizing on our expertise in community outreach and creating public spaces to expand the L.A. Al Fresco program. In partnership with the City of LA and LADOT, we're helping neighborhood businesses (restaurants, bars, and cafes) re-envision some of their own spaces, to test how streets and lots that primarily serve cars can be opened up to people-centered activity.

L.A. Al Fresco helps local businesses relax the rules that regulate outdoor dining, and therefore increase the space restaurants have for outdoor use. We continue to build upon our work in LA, one street and neighborhood at a time.

Romel Pascual, Executive Director at CicLAvia, recently gave an interview to BYCS, an Amsterdam-based, active-transportation-driven social enterprise. As an urban planner with a long history of championing environmental causes and social justice issues, Romel spoke about the role CicLAvia plays in creating urban spaces in Los Angeles while creating joy and wellbeing in the lives of Angelenos.

"I think CicLAvia can offer a restoration of social confidence and what I’m calling responsible social conscience. We will be out there on the streets giving people the opportunity to engage with it in whatever way they wish. We provide that canvas they can paint with whatever it is that will inspire them that day, the day after CicLAvia, and beyond."

CicLAvia Sundays are coming back!

We are as eager as you are to get together again. CicLAvia is where joy meets purpose. We deeply believe our return will restore comfort to our community and remind us of the value of public spaces for all. We will announce our upcoming route and date soon. Be sure to join our email list to be the first to get the announcements.