Go ahead, play in the street.
So say organizers of CicLAvia, an event Sunday that allows bicyclists, skateboarders, pedestrians and rollerbladers — second-class citizens in this car-dependent city — to dominate nearly eight miles of Los Angeles' streets.
The ciclovia, which means bicycle path in Spanish, began in Bogota, Colombia, several decades ago in response to pollution and street congestion. Instead of driving elsewhere for entertainment, residents were invited to use the street as their playground.
Last October, about 100,000 people turned out for Los Angeles' first CicLAvia, which was planned by a committee that included bike activists, environmentalists and transportation advocates. Organizers expect an even greater number this time around to be on the family-friendly route that stretches through East Hollywood, Koreatown, Westlake, downtown and Boyle Heights.