After being postponed due to ICE raids, CicLAvia returns to South Central LA

The annual “CicLAvia – Historic South Central meets Watts” event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 14, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The free outdoor happening will connect the neighborhoods of South Central, Florence, Firestone and Watts, welcoming everyone of all ages and abilities to enjoy this daylong 6.25-mile pop-up park.

The event, which was initially scheduled for late June, was postponed due to the heavy ICE raids and sightings that have hit the South Central L.A. community since early June. Organizers of the event announced that, in early June, “out of care and safety for our communities during our city’s current situation,” the event would be rescheduled.

"South LA is always one of the highlights of CicLAvia's schedule," CicLAvia executive director Romel Pascua said. “Along South Central Avenue, L.A.’s dynamic culture can be seen in the local businesses and restaurants, community parks and public art that are on the route. It gives Angelenos the opportunity to see new things, which reminds us of what makes our city a remarkable and special place.” 

This Sunday’s CicLAvia will represent the organization's 62nd car-free open streets event, catalyzing vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through streets and avenues. 

CicLAvia, which encourages Angelenos to spend a day without a car by walking, jogging, biking, roller skating, skating or simply spectating. 

CicLAvia, inspired by Bogotá’s weekly ciclovía, temporarily closes streets to car traffic and opens them to Angelenos to use as a public park, something that for South L.A. is crucial. 

According to the Prevention Institute, in partnership with UCLA, the National Health Foundation, Community Coalition, Esperanza Community Housing Corporation and the Social Justice Learning Institute, South Central L.A. is considered to have ‘high park need’ and ‘very high park need’ neighborhoods, with an average of 1.6 and 0.7 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, in comparison to the L.A. Countywide average, which is 3.3 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.

The median life expectancy in South L.A. is 77 years, well below the upper bound for the county as a whole. About 15 miles away in the community of Beverly Hills, the life expectancy is about 90 years, 13 years higher. 

According to their website, CicLAvia has five times more people using its temporary park space during event days than are using all of the other parks in the City of Los Angeles combined. 

“CicLAvia—Historic South Central meets Watts” will include five hubs filled with activities and programs along the route, including family-friendly activities, restrooms, free water refilling stations, free basic bike repair, bike parking and places to sit and meet up with friends and family and to receive first aid. 

Hubs are walking zones (mandatory dismounts) and meeting points along the route, which include the Historic South Central Hub, the Jazz Park Hub, the Florence Firestone Hub, the Central Avenue Hub and the Watts Hub. 

The “CicLAvia—Historic South Central meets Watts”route is accessible via many different forms of transportation, such as hubs, Metro trains, bike rentals,group meetups, walk or run clubs, feeder rides and bus detours, without a specific place to start or finish. Only people-powered vehicles are allowed; no electric scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards, electric unicycles, motorcycles and other non-people-powered vehicles.

To learn more about CicLAvia, click here.