CicLAvia is once again closing streets to cars and opening them to cyclists and pedestrians as it launches its 2024 season starting Sunday, Feb. 25.
And after strolling or biking through carless roads, participants can throw back a cold one too because CicLAvia has teamed up with a local brewery to create its own beer for the season.
“There’s nothing better than a beer after a bike ride,” said Andrew Fowler, an avid cyclist and co-founder of Los Angeles Ale Works, which has brewed a beer named “seek-la-VEE-ah.”
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It’s named that for educational purposes.
“The beer’s name is the phonetic spelling of our organization. Since it is a made up word often people don’t know how to pronounce it. So we’re hoping getting this beer out in the world will give people more of an idea on how to pronounce the name CicLAvia,” said Rachel Burke, chief program officer for CicLAvia.
Since 2010, the citywide event has closed certain stretches of streets to motorized traffic and given them over to alternative forms of non-motorized transportation including bicycles, skateboards, skates, as well as pedestrians. Along the routes people can expect activities like scavenger hunts, street games and cultural hubs.
The 2024 season launches Feb. 25 with a route on Melrose Avenue between Fairfax and Vermont avenues from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The eight event season continues through Dec. 8 with Sunday events in areas like Venice, Wilmington, Hollywood, Lincoln Heights, the San Fernando Valley and other neighborhoods.
“We see this as an opportunity to introduce people to new neighborhoods and to introduce neighbors to each other,” Burke said. “We hope people will feel the joy of the city of Los Angeles, of the county of Los Angeles. We hope people will feel more connected to each other and that they might think twice about driving short distances,” she added.
But before the streets close to cars the cans of beer will pop open with a Feb. 16 season launch event at Los Angeles Ale Works’ Culver City location from 12-midnight.
The launch will include food trucks, music, games, vendors, and kid-friendly activities. This is the second year Los Angeles Ale Works has collaborated with CicLAvia to create a beer.
“We love what they do, the open streets concept and mobility and getting people to see the city from a different lens,” said Fowler, who owns five bicycles which he rides around the city.
The beer meanwhile is a West Coast India Pale Ale that comes in at a 6.5% ABV, which is pretty light for an IPA.
“It’s hoppy, fruity with citrus notes. It’s a refreshing little punch of tropical fruit. We were really going for drinkability,” Fowler said.
The can is decorated with different cities and landmarks around L.A. signifying CicLAvia’s impact on the area. For those who can’t make it to the Feb. 16 launch, the beer will be available for a limited time at the Los Angeles Ale Work Hawthorne and Culver City locations as well as places like Whole Foods, Total Wine, Bristol Farms and other small craft retailers.
Here are the event dates and areas for this year’s CicLAvia. Go to ciclavia.org closer to each event date to get a detailed route and list of activities.
Los Angeles Ale Works launch party
When: 12 p.m.-midnight Feb. 16 coinciding with the Culver City Arts District Night Market
Where: Los Angeles Ale Works, Ivy Station Complex, 8809 Washington Blvd., Culver City.
Tickets: Free admission. Get more information at laaleworks.com
CicLAvia 2024 Season
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 25: Melrose Avenue between Fairfax and Vermont avenues.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 21: Along Venice Blvd., connecting Palms, Mar Vista and Venice.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 19: Wilmington, route TBD.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 23: South L.A., through communities along Western Avenue.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 18: Meet the Hollywoods, connecting West Hollywood, Hollywood and East Hollywood.
Time TBD Sept 15: Lincoln Heights, route TBD.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 13: Heart of L.A. with route through Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Downtown L.A. and Echo Park.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 8: The Valley, Ventura Blvd. through NoHo, Studio City and Sherman Oaks.