Ryan Fonseca

Compared to the vast road network in L.A., the short span of asphalt that’s closed to cars is pretty minor. But safety advocates are celebrating it as a big win in car-centric L.A., where reclaiming space for people has been an uphill battle.

Safety advocates say the new viaduct, which police have closed four of the past five nights, needs a serious redesign that prioritizes people, not cars.

One driver demonstrated just how easily cars can enter the “protected” bike lanes on the new viaduct.

Safety advocates say plastic posts and rubber strips won’t keep cyclists safe from dangerous drivers. They’re also concerned about the lack of bike connections to and from the bridge, especially in Boyle Heights.

The 5.5-mile route will provide car-free mobility options and access to transit along the way.

The free event will close off three miles of Western Avenue to car traffic, allowing people to explore South L.A. neighborhoods on their bikes, on foot, with skateboards or using other “people-powered vehicles.”

That's because while the city adopted an ambitious mobility plan in 2015, it has barely followed it.

Drivers frequently use Griffith Park Drive to avoid freeway traffic. Their cut-through route is now closed to cars, but open for people to walk, bike and ride horses.

An innovative, community-led micromobility experiment is underway for residents in Pacoima and surrounding communities.

The board’s decision comes after decades of studying and planning. Communities along the freeway have long advocated against adding more lanes through some of the worst-polluted communities in the U.S.

Villanueva had taken issue with L.A. Metro’s current policing contract, which the sheriff’s department shares with the Los Angeles and Long Beach police departments.

Amid the guerrilla safety group's action and the city's reaction, the number of pedestrians killed by drivers on L.A. streets continues to rise.