CicLAvia — Reflections on its Disruptive Power 10 Years After
10/10/10 was a thrilling day! Our intrepid group of dedicated volunteers* pulled off a coup of enormous proportions. In Los Angeles, the land where the car reigns supreme, we launched CicLAvia creating 7.5 miles of new public space by repurposing streets for people and banishing vehicles for the day. It was a radical idea that overnight became a touchstone for change and a symbolic turning point in LA’s transportation evolution. Or, so I thought.
Looking back over the past ten years, I am filled with enormous pride at our accomplishments tempered by tremendous disappointment at the lack of systemic and equitable changes to our streets. Let’s start with the positive side of the ledger.
Angelenos embraced CicLAvia with a fervor that took me, and many others, by surprise. I have produced numerous events over the past four decades the size and scale of CicLAvia (with my company, Community Arts Resources — CARS). Although they are fondly remembered by participants and attendees, none have had the wide-ranging impact of this project.
CicLAvia was and is different. The buzz stuck and the attention CicLAvia garnered on that first day has increased exponentially since its…
