CicLAvia, known for turning Los Angeles streets into car-free spaces for walking, biking, and community gathering, will host its 58th open streets event on Sun., Feb. 23. For the first time, the event will take place in West Adams and University Park, inviting participants to explore these historic neighborhoods without vehicle traffic.
"This is our first time ever in these neighborhoods," said Tafarai Bayne, Chief Strategist at CicLAvia. "We're always excited to be able to bring the event to new communities."
Along the route, local DJs from Juju Social Club will provide music, adding to the lively atmosphere. A full schedule of activities will be available at ciclavia.org before the event.
The path lets people explore landmarks like the Natural History Museum and soon-to-open Lucas Museum. "With historic institutions and a vibrant small business community featuring staples like Harold and Belle's, South LA Cafe, and Highly Likely, I'm certain everyone will be able to find something that speaks to them," Bayne said.
According to Bayne, neighbors join in by watching from their yards, riding bikes or setting up food stands selling BBQ and pupusas. This community spirit turns streets into lively gathering spaces.
"LA is so synonymous with traffic that residents have difficulty imagining street spaces without cars," Bayne explained. "Our events allow these experiences to happen in our own neighborhoods as opposed to relegating them to places like Beach Bike paths or the LA River."
These temporary car-free zones help residents reimagine their streets' potential. When people see their neighborhood without traffic, they start questioning why streets can't be more people-friendly all the time.
This year, CicLAvia is expanding to new neighborhoods, including West Adams and University Park, as well as hosting its first CicLAvia Mini in San Pedro, following a previous open streets event there in 2017.