CicLAvia Takes Over USC

CicLAvia took over downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, October 7, closing down Figueroa near USC.  Bikers and joggers replaced the usual bumper to bumper traffic on the road for the fifth time.  The route transformed 9.1 miles of Los Angeles city streets from Exposition Park to Grand Park.  

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is encouraging Angelenos to get out of their cars and become more active.  This is a part of the City plan to promote public transportation and make streets safer for pedestrians.  Since it began in 2010, CicLAvia has attracted more than 100,000 participants.  

This is Genaro Soria's fourth time at CicLAvia, "It's kind of a tradition we do it twice a year and this is the first time riding our bikes ever coming through here," Soria said at the corner of Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard.

Figueroa is closed throughout the USC area.  Traffic is being rerouted through cross streets and local access – and local businesses are noticing.

Route map of CicLAvia (courtesy of CicLAvia.org)

Samantha Kodrich works at the front desk at the Vagabond Inn on Figueroa and can see CicLAvia riders from her office desk.  "It's kind of cool, there was some music playing and a lot of bikes started going around 10.  I was worried because I take the bus to work but the cross streets were open, it's just the main route that's closed so I was able to get off the bus," Kodrich said.

Police tape is blocking off many parking lots on Figueroa, including the Vagabond Inn.  "We've tried to let our customers know to the best of our ability.  We've put signs in the rooms and everything but of course many people still don't know, so they are kind of irritated," Kodrich said.

Rumany Long, who works at Spudnuts near USC on Figueroa and 30th Street, has noticed a lag in morning business.  "I think our business has slowed down because of streets being closed but even for me to get here in the morning I have to find my way around to get here.  It's very cool to see people out here bike riding and jogging, it's nice to see that," Long said.  

CicLAvia will run until 3 p.m. on Sunday.