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If you have to drive in, to, from, near, or around Downtown L.A. this weekend, well...don't. Because traffic is probably going to blow. That's the official word (with some poetic license) from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who have their eye on four upcoming major events that will have the streets clogged with people taking part in the festivities.
The LASD break down the lane-choking happenings as follows:
1. Baseball: Dodgers vs Cardinals - Fri, Sat, Sun. nights (May 18, 19, 20)
2. Staples Center to host 5 playoff games in 3 days - Fri, Sat, Sun. (May 18, 19, 20) Lakers, Clippers, Kings
3. Amgen Bike Tour: Stage 8 - Beverly Hills to Los Angeles (L.A. LIVE), Sun, May 20
4. ACN International Training Event- L.A., CA. May 18-20, 2012. Los Angeles Convention Center
While the games don't necessitate closed streets, considering how well many of our local teams are doing in their respective leagues and playoffs, that means more fans, and amped up ones at that.
The Amgen Bike Tour kicks off near Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills just after 10 a.m. Sunday, and will find racers on Santa Monica Blvd., Doheny Drive, Sunset Blvd., Hollywood Blvd., Grand Avenue, and on to several downtown streets, until the last laps around L.A. Live at around Noon. (Full maps and turn schedules are downloadable from the Amgen Stage 8 webpage.)
The moral of the story: Plan your weekend outings carefully, and try to stick to subway and light rail if you are going through Downtown.
