CicLAvia Turns 16: Car-Free Heart of LA Ride Returns October 11
Mark your calendar, LA: CicLAvia is back on Sunday, October 11, and this one is special. The Heart of LA route marks 16 years of car-free streets in Los Angeles, one day after the anniversary of the very first CicLAvia on October 10, 2010. And there's a bit of good news behind the scenes too: the city just put fresh money on the table to keep open streets events rolling toward the 2028 Olympics.
The route: 6.5 miles, six neighborhoods, zero cars
From 9am to 4pm, more than 6.5 miles of streets close to cars and open to people on bikes, on foot, on skates and in strollers. The route connects Downtown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District, Boyle Heights and Echo Park. There's no start line and no finish line, and it's not a race, so you can hop on anywhere, ride as much or as little as you want, and stop for food along the way.
Four hubs along the route have family activities, water stations and bike repair help:
- Echo Park Hub – 1632 Bellevue Ave
- Chinatown Hub – 942 N Broadway
- Little Tokyo Hub – 121 S Central Ave
- Mariachi Plaza Hub – 1801 E 1st St
The event is free. Streets close to cars from about 7am until around 6pm, so plan around that if you're driving anywhere near DTLA that day.
Bringing your e-bike? Know the rules
E-bikes are welcome, with a few conditions from the organizers. Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are fine as they are. Class 2 e-bikes are allowed with the throttle turned off. Class 3 e-bikes are allowed with pedal assist turned off. Basically, everyone moves under their own power on the route (with exceptions for disability accommodations). Helmets are recommended for everyone and required by law for riders under 18.
Getting there from Burbank
You don't need to drive. Metro A, B, D and E lines all serve the route, and the Civic Center/Grand Park and Chinatown stations sit right next to it. From Burbank, an easy option is to ride or take Metrolink to Union Station, which is a short roll from the Chinatown and Little Tokyo sections. Feeling stronger? The LA River path gets you most of the way down on two wheels, and it's a great warm-up.
$1 million to keep open streets going
At the end of September, Mayor Karen Bass signed an order putting $1 million toward CicLAvia and other open and slow streets events through July 2028, ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. That's roughly enough to cover two CicLAvia events, according to BikinginLA, which also noted that Metro's original budget hadn't set aside money for open streets at all. It's not a huge amount, but it means more car-free days are on the way. In the Mayor's words, these events "connect communities, bring people together, support local businesses."
What this means for you
If you've been nervous about riding in LA traffic, CicLAvia is the best possible test drive: wide streets, no cars, thousands of friendly riders. It's a great first ride for kids and new commuters, and a chance to see whether a commute into DTLA could work for you.
A few quick prep tips:
- Check your tires and brakes the week before. Pump to the pressure printed on the sidewall.
- Bring water. October in LA can still be hot. A Trek Voda Flow 26oz bottle fits any standard cage.
- Plan for the ride home. If you'll be out until sunset, a front and rear light set like the Trek Ion 50 R / Flare R Metro light set keeps you visible once the streets reopen to cars.
- Charge your e-bike battery the night before if you're riding from the Valley.
Get rolling with Mybike LA
Want a quick safety check before the big day, or need a bike for the family? Stop by Mybike LA in Burbank. We'll get your ride tuned up, answer your e-bike questions and help you plan your route to CicLAvia. See you on the streets!
Sources: CicLAvia – Heart of LA 2026, LA Magazine, BikinginLA. Photo: Unsplash