CicLAvia returns in Mid-City, Pico-Union Area

Another installment of the CicLAvia open-streets festival was held Sunday, opening streets in the Mid-City and Pico-Union areas to bicycles, skaters and pedestrians.

The new route, called "CicLAvia Mid City Meets Pico Union,'' will wind through Mid-City, Arlington Heights, Angelus Vista, Harvard Heights and Pico-Union neighborhoods as stretches of Venice Boulevard, Seventh Avenue and Washington Boulevard turn into public parks for people to ride, walk, or jog.

No vehicle traffic will be allowed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while thousands of people on foot, skates or bikes take the opportunity to explore the communities, merchants and organizations along the route.

Part of the route was included in a 2013 CicLAvia, but the western portion on Washington is a new stretch.

"Traveling through open streets on CicLAvia Sundays, you see a city where it's buildings and social environments are on full display, and where people of all ages can deepen their connection with L.A.'s dynamic and diverse neighborhoods,'' said Romel Pascual, CicLAvia executive director.

"We're proud to have provided this transformational experience along 200 miles of open streets so far and look forward to continuing to create events that inspire a more sustainable -- and happier -- transportation culture. It's how people feel and behave on Monday that's so impactful.''

Organizers say more than 1.6 million people have attended CicLAvia events since the first one in 2010.

Other CicLAvia events scheduled for 2019 are Meet the Hollywoods on Aug. 18 (another new route), Heart of LA Celebrating UCLA's 100th anniversary on Oct. 6 and The Valley on Dec. 8 (new route).

For more information, visit www.ciclavia.org.

CNS contributed to this report