While there are as many definitions of Los Angeles as there are Angelenos, we can all agree on where the heart of the city is, at least in terms of early history and civic decision-making.
It's downtown, specifically along the Chinatown-Olvera Street-City Hall nexus. And that's where the next CicLAvia is set to roll on Sunday, Oct. 6. The bicycle ride's apt name? The Heart of LA.
CicLAvia, which arrived in Southern California in 2010, is the free, come-one-come-all bike event that draws thousands of cyclists looking to enjoy a day of riding on streets that have been closed to automobiles.
The fall 2013 route skirts and touches previous CicLAvia rolls, but with some new features. One highlight? Grand Park will be a "mandatory pedestrian zone" hub, which means riders must hop off and walk their wheels (and people without wheels are invited to come stroll and take in the scene).
Other hubs on the map? Chinatown is the tip-toppiest one on the map, while Mariachi Plaza is the hub located at the most eastern point. The African American Firefighter Museum serves as the southern hub while MacArthur Park is out at the west-northwest.
While some CicLAvia maps, like the June ride along Wilshire, have been very straight-and-narrow, The Heart of LA plan looks akin to a star or a compass with four fairly distinct arms. Meaning? You'll have a few twist and turns in direction, if you so desire.
The Scene
Want to find new things to do in Los Angeles? The Scene's lifestyle stories have you covered. Here's your go-to source on where the fun is across SoCal and for the weekend.
Open houses, music, and "fun in the Piñata District" are on the docket.
As always, CicLAvia is admission free and very well attended (over 100,000 people have shown at the last two events). What do you need? Just a bike, some roller skates, or your tennies, and a desire to get to know a new part of the city.
