Wave Wire Services
HOLLYWOOD (CNS) — Thousands of people walked, biked, skated and jogged along a 6.1-mile car-free route connecting West Hollywood and Hollywood July 19 as CicLAvia staged its latest open street event.
The free event, “CicLAvia — Meet the Hollywoods,” was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Santa Monica Boulevard between La Cienega Boulevard and Highland Avenue, on Highland north to Hollywood Boulevard, and on Hollywood east to Vermont Avenue.
The route was slightly revised because of the water main break July 16 in West Hollywood, with the western end of the route ending at La Cienega Boulevard instead of San Vicente as originally planned.
A spokeswoman told City News Service that she saw no negative impact on turnout due to the route change.
“It looks busy to me,” she said. “It was very busy out there, it was a great day.”
The route featured four activity hubs offering family-friendly programming, restrooms, water refill stations, bicycle parking, basic bike repairs, first aid and free pedicab rides.
The hubs were located in West Hollywood just east of La Cienega Boulevard, Plummer Park, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and East Hollywood. A pit stop near Wilton Place on Hollywood Boulevard also provided water, restrooms and bike repair.
Organizers also planned World Cup programming and a watch party for the tournament’s championship match at the Walk of Fame Hub on Hollywood Boulevard at Highland Avenue.
Inspired by Bogotá, Colombia’s weekly ciclovía, CicLAvia provides car-free streets connecting people to the neighborhoods where they live, work, shop, learn and play. Along the way there is shopping at local businesses and access to cultural and architectural gems.
CicLAvia has hosted 66 previous open streets events, temporarily closing streets to vehicle traffic while encouraging residents to explore neighborhoods by foot, bicycle and other non-motorized means.
According to the nonprofit organization, nearly 2 million people have participated in CicLAvia events covering more than 369 miles of Los Angeles streets.
