The crowds pedalled hard and the sun shone bright as tens of thousands of Angelenos took to Wilshire Boulevard on Sunday to bicycle on a traffic-free route between Fairfax Ave and Grand Ave downtown. The six mile straight-shot with built-in median much of the way made it a wide, easy route separating the east and west bound bikers, and offering long views of the iconic Wilshire Blvd.
The cyclists seemed delighted to own the streets, though the motorists at cross streets lined up for miles trying to get across Wilshire for points north and south.
CicLAvia, as part of “Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A.”, published a pocket-sized guide “The Modernist’s Guide to Iconic Wilshire Boulevard” that shared photos and descriptions of the many noteworthy buildings along Wilshire Blvd. and was handed out to participants. Researched and written by Catherine Gudis and designed by Colleen Corcoran, the downloadable guide allows readers to appreciate and understand the context for modernism and the role that Wilshire’s built environment has played as the city’s cultural and demographic makeup has changed.
If you didn’t make it on Sunday, here are a few photos from the last CicLAvia will hold on Wilshire for many years. The construction of Metro’s Purple Line Extension will curtail using Wilshire again until after the subway extension is completed.
This was a fantastic event. Another of the many reasons we are so lucky to live here.
Fun, casual ride, just rode from Wilton to Fairfax then to Trader Joes on La Brea.