L.A. Bike Tour brings city together

by Josh Marks, March 8, 2007

For two glorious hours last Sunday morning bicyclists took over the boulevards of downtown Los Angeles. Nary a car was to be seen as 16,000 hardy souls arrived at Exposition Park before dawn to participate in the 12th annual Acura L.A. Bike Tour.

As fireworks lit up the sky above the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, the mass of humanity started pedaling their way down Martin Luther King Boulevard for a 22-plus mile trek in and around downtown.

Everyone from serious Lance Armstrong wannabes to families riding at a leisurely pace could be seen. The participants represented the spectrum of cultures across Los Angeles. The diversity on display was truly impressive.

The neighborhoods along the course showed how far downtown has come and how far it still has to go. While the numerous new lofts and construction cranes working on the L.A. Live entertainment complex across from the Staples Center were encouraging, there were many parts of downtown that are full of urban blight -- trash-strewn streets, abandoned and dilapidated buildings and a disturbing number of homeless people.

Riders also rolled through Boyle Heights, a lively Latino neighborhood where the community was out in force cheering everyone along. The diversity of the different neighborhoods was the most interesting part of the trip. In addition to Boyle Heights the course went through Koreatown, Little Tokyo, the Fashion district, the Jewelry district, the Financial district, the Warehouse district and other distinct areas.

The riders were generally respectful of each other as there were few major accidents. People shouted out “passing on your left!” or gave a hand signal if they were shifting lanes. Apparently the rules of the road with bicycles are a lot more civilized then when people get behind the wheel of a car.

Unfortunately there was one fatality. A 50-year-old man went into cardiac arrest and died close to the finish line at South Catalina Street and Exposition Boulevard. Participants were instructed to dismount from their bikes and walk so the ambulance could get through.

While the L.A. Marathon was the main event, the thousands of bikers who clogged the streets of downtown showed the world that Angelenos can get out of their cars and explore areas of the city they might never have step foot in otherwise. From the perspective of this participant, the Acura L.A. Bike Tour was a tiring but ultimately rewarding experience.