With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
From The Archives: A Motorcyclist's Final Ride On The Old 6th Street Bridge
The previous iconic 6th Street Bridge is shown after its closure to traffic on January 27, 2016. The crumbling Sixth Street Viaduct that has appeared in scores of Hollywood productions was ultimately closed and demolished due to safety concerns after its concrete has become weakened by a rare chemical reaction.
(
Mark Ralston
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Editor's Note: This story was published in 2016 before the demolition of the original 6th Street Viaduct. We're sharing it again as the city celebrates (with some speed bumps along the way) the opening of its replacement.
Filmmaker Jacob Moss' "The Viaduct" has a simple plot: a motorcyclist decides to take Los Angeles' 6th Street Bridge for one final ride.
We see the man as he makes coffee in his dimly lit apartment and watches the morning news. As a newscaster discusses the bridge's recent closure, we fade into sweeping shots of our protagonist riding his 2009 Triumph Bonneville through an uncrowded Los Angles after dark.
Sponsored message
"The Viaduct" isn't Moss' first motorcycle short. Cope, which was featured at the 2015 Motorcycle Film Festival in New York, is about a man who suffers with stress related to both his work and personal life. As he tries to relax, he imagines taking a motorcycle for a desert ride.
Demolition on the historic bridge began February of this year. Though the bridge was loved by many and had appeared in several iconic films, music videos and photos, it was not structurally stable. The bridge will be replaced by a more earthquake-friendly solution by 2019.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
