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L.A. isn’t known as a city that’s exceptionally bike (or pedestrian) friendly. But that’s not the case this weekend, where people are encouraged to ditch their four wheels for two, enticed by a number of bike-centric events.
Many of the happenings are related to CicLAvia, this weekend’s car-free event that closes down L.A. streets to automobile traffic, opening them up to bikers, walkers and skaters.
The first CicLAvia of 2014 returns to the Iconic Wilshire Boulevard route on Sunday (April 6) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, taking over between One Wilshire in Downtown Los Angeles and Fairfax Avenue along Museum Row. The “anchor hubs” are pedestrian-only zones with various programs, including kid-friendly activities, vendors and food trucks in addition to the local businesses near those locations. Other hubs along the six-mile route are: MacArthur Park, Mid-Wilshire and Koreatown (which will not have food trucks because there are so many awesome restaurants already there).
Sunday’s CicLAvia also coincides with the Open Streets National Summit, April 4-6, which CicLAvia is co-hosting with the Open Streets Project. The summit brings together “open streets leaders from around the country, including experts in urban planning, alternative transportation and bike and pedestrian advocacy to consider best practices and new opportunities.”
Of course, the summit is being held along Wilshire—at The Line Hotel in Ktown—so that summit attendees can end their conference with a bike ride. It’s not too late to register for the national summit.
New Belgium Brewing has partnered with L.A. bicycle advocacy groups C.I.C.L.E.(Cyclists Inciting Change through Live Exchange) and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition to present its Snapshot Photohunt contest on Sunday.
The free photo scavenger hunt takes place along Wilshire Boulevard during CicLAvia, and participants can pick up or turn in a clue sheet at the following venues along the route: Dublins Irish Pub (815 W. 7th St.), Caffe Primo (612 S. Flower St.); Beer Belly (532 S. Western Ave.), Busby’s East (5364 Wilshire Blvd.) and The Rivalry Sports Bar and Grill (611 Wilshire Blvd.).
Solve riddles to enter to win a New Belgium bike and other prizes. But even more importantly, with every clue sheet turned in, New Belgium donates $5 to the participating bicycle organizations.
The Bicycle Film Festivalreturns to Downtown Los Angeles on April 4-5 at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. There are four programs of bike-centric screenings spread over the two nights, followed by after-parties for filmmakers and guests.
Festival highlights include:
Screenings are $11 each. There will be free bike valet during the festival, too. So get out there this weekend—and ride!
