For one Sunday in October, streets connecting Echo Park, Downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and Boyle Heights will become a public space for people to explore at their own pace. CicLAvia—Heart of LA marks the nonprofit’s 16th year and its 68th car-free open streets event with more than 6.5 miles available for walking, jogging, cycling, skating, rolling and gathering. The event is free and open to people of all ages and abilities. 

There is no starting point, finish line or requirement to travel the entire route. Participants can enter or leave anywhere along it, spend the day visiting local businesses and cultural landmarks, or find a place to sit and watch the streets take on a different rhythm. What CicLAvia calls a pop-up park offers room to slow down and connect with neighborhoods that many Angelenos usually pass through by car. 

“Every October, returning to the route where CicLAvia began in 2010 is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come,” said CicLAvia Executive Director Romel Pascual. “Heart of LA is where LA first experienced what our streets could become when they are designed for people, and not just for cars. CicLAvia reminds us what’s possible when LA makes space for people, prioritizes safety, and brings communities together.”

The route has four activity hubs. The Echo Park Hub is on Bellevue Avenue near Glendale Boulevard, south of Echo Park Lake. The Chinatown Hub is on North Broadway north of College Street. The Little Tokyo Hub is on South Central Avenue south of First Street, while the Mariachi Plaza Hub is on First Street east of South Boyle Avenue. Hubs are walking zones where riders must dismount, as well as places to meet friends and family. They offer family activities, seating, restrooms, water refills, first aid, bike parking and basic bike repair. Free pedicabs stop at each hub’s information booth and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. 

CicLAvia asks participants to keep the route welcoming and safe for everyone. Traffic moves in both directions; slower participants should stay right, and those passing should do so on the left. People riding to or from the event on streets that remain open to cars should judge those trips separately from conditions on the closed route. Manual and motorized wheelchairs and other mobility devices are welcome. 

As a general rule, vehicles on the route must be people-powered. Electric scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards, electric unicycles and motorcycles are prohibited. Class 1 e-bikes are permitted with pedal assist; Class 2 e-bikes are permitted with the throttle off; and Class 3 e-bikes are permitted with pedal assist off. CicLAvia makes exceptions for motorized mobility devices used by people with disabilities. Participants can review the full rules of the route and safety information before attending. Participants assume the known and unknown risks of taking part. 

Inspired by Bogotá’s weekly ciclovía, CicLAvia began opening Los Angeles streets to people in 2010. Its events have since brought Angelenos into neighborhoods across the region, creating opportunities to shop locally, encounter public art and architecture, move for physical and mental well-being, and consider what a cleaner, more connected transportation system could look like. The nonprofit credits supporters, volunteers, staff and participants with making those events possible and relies on public support to continue them. Its 2026 season will conclude with CicLAvia—Pasadena on Sunday, November 15. 

CicLAvia—Heart of LA takes place Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The four hub addresses are 1632 Bellevue Avenue in Echo Park; 942 North Broadway in Chinatown; 121 South Central Avenue in Little Tokyo; and 1801 East First Street at Mariachi Plaza. Streets on the route will be closed to car traffic from approximately 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some closures beginning earlier. The event page and route map have details for visitors, residents and businesses.