CicLAvia transforms downtown L.A.

Anyone in Downtown Los Angeles expects to see traffic, but on Sunday the traffic was a different kind—bicycles. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 9, CicLAvia blocks motorized transportation from 10 miles of L.A. streets.

Walking along the sidewalks Sunday afternoon fills me with bike envy. I feel involved photographing the event, but not in the way biking through the streets together unifies the cyclists despite the fact that for many, their bikes are the only things they have in common. The sun gleams off the many mirrors of the tricked-out bike one man rides like it is a motorcycle. Occupy LA protesters mix with the cyclists on First Street outside of City Hall. An impromptu singer accompanied by men on beat and synth raps about passing cyclists on Spring and Sixth streets. The community energy in the streets, expressed through games of dodgeball, performance art, and live music along the route was intoxicating. CicLAvia caused the city to come alive.

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