Episode 6 - CICLAVIA: Meet the Hollywoods

WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:10.519 Well, how do folks, and good morning, afternoon or evening, wherever 2 00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:15.160 and whenever you may be listening. My name is Tim and welcome to one 3 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:20.000 day in so cal. Whether you've lived here your entire life or visiting from 4 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:24.199 across the world, whether you only have one day in so cal or one 5 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:27.519 month, I want to share some of the coolest, most fun and most 6 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:32.200 unique things to do right here in southern California, whether that's solo or with 7 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:36.840 friends and family. So join me on my next adventure and hopefully yours. 8 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:47.560 Right now on one day in so cal, Dick Lavilla is kicking off. 9 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:52.240 There meet the Hollywood's tour this morning. The festival is designed to reconnect residents 10 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:58.399 with neighbors and the community, while supporting local businesses and encouraging healthy outdoor activities. 11 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:00.560 Roads are going to be closed between East and West Hollywood for a six 12 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:06.799 point six miles stretch. Locals will be allowed to jog, by skate enjoy 13 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:10.959 the route however they'd like. You can join the route wherever from nine am 14 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:14.840 to four PM. There are two more events planned this year, on October 15 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:19.879 nine in downtown L A and December four in south L A. Get out 16 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.840 and enjoy the sunshine right. Welcome to episode four of the one day and 17 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:33.599 Socal podcast. It's Friday August and I am recording from beautiful Rightwood, California. 18 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:36.719 visit me on the web. One day, in SOCAL DOT COM, 19 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:42.040 one day and SOCAL DOT com for the latest episodes, travelog videos, interactive 20 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:47.079 map, social media links and more. Now that I've gotten pretty consistent with 21 00:01:47.159 --> 00:01:51.079 the schedule of this podcast, you can expect new episodes of this of this 22 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:55.040 podcast to be released on Friday mornings. So, if you are so inclined, 23 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:57.959 feel free to subscribe so you don't miss out on my next adventure and 24 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:05.000 hopefully yours. So this week I went back to Hollywood, California, to 25 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:08.080 take part in sick Lavia. Now, folks, I know we are a 26 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:13.599 little Hollywood heavy on the podcast episode so far, but that's simply the luck 27 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:15.360 of the draw due to the large amount of events that have been taking place 28 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:20.960 in so cal, or I should say in Hollywood, over the past few 29 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.599 weeks, events I simply could not pass up. But I'm willing to bet 30 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:29.639 you're not asking yourself why is this guy talking about Hollywood again, but rather 31 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:35.360 asking yourself what on earth is sick Lavia. Now, I assure you it's 32 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:39.560 not a disease or an insect. Se Clovia is a Spanish term that means 33 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:45.960 cycle way. The Spanish word is spelled C I C L O v I. 34 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:50.000 A. Sick Lavilla, however, is a play on that word, 35 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:55.719 spelled see I C L A v I. A. Sick Lavia is a 36 00:02:55.800 --> 00:03:00.159 five, oh, one, c three nonprofit that works with various city in 37 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:05.479 Los Angeles County. The temporarily temporarily shut down select streets and so called to 38 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:13.039 allow access to non motorized transportation. That means literally translation miles and miles of 39 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:17.120 streets that are blocked off to cars and allow access only to bicycles, skateboards, 40 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:23.120 walking, running, skating and other human power transportation. Best of all, 41 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:29.240 CYC Lavia is completely free. You just show up with your preferred human 42 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:34.280 power transportation and participate, and the events usually run between the hours of nine 43 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:38.759 am and four PM. CYC Lavia first started in Los Angeles on October, 44 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:45.080 or ten, ten, ten and open the streets of East Hollywood, through 45 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:50.039 downtown Los Angeles and into boil heights. Over one hundred thousand people turned out 46 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:53.680 for that event alone, and from there. It turned into an annual event, 47 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:57.800 which is now turned into a multi annual event with events taking place all 48 00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:02.199 over Los Angeles County. Other past Oglivia events that have taken place in between 49 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:10.240 had that have taken place include Macarthur Park to Chinatown, Macarthur Park to East 50 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:15.959 Los Angeles, downtown Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, Pasadena, Culver City 51 00:04:15.959 --> 00:04:21.920 to Venice, the iconic Wilshire Boulevard, Glendelda at Water Village, San Pedro 52 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:28.680 to Wilmington's San Dimas to Claremont Panna, Panorama city to Paquema, Hollywood to 53 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.879 downtown L A, mid city to Pico Union and Canoga Park to Reseda. 54 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:36.360 So if you live here in socale you know, if you don't, just 55 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:41.959 realize, that these cities are a fair drive from each other. Roots often 56 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:46.160 range from as little as three miles to as much as fifteen miles. Stick 57 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:50.720 Olivia's route ran fifteen miles from downtown Los Angeles to Venice Beach. By the 58 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:54.759 way, is it route or route? I want to say route because of 59 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:59.199 routers, but I want to say route because that's what Google said it was 60 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:03.480 when I clicked the on the little uh pronunciation button, when I typed in 61 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:10.800 route or's around? I don't know. I'm gonna say route. Participation in 62 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:15.120 Cyclivia has continued to remain high and they currently average fifty three thousand people at 63 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:19.560 each event, according to their website. When I went a few when, 64 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:23.120 when? When I went a few days ago, there was surely more than 65 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:28.279 that, despite the entirety of Hollywood, Santa Monica and highland boulevards completely open. 66 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:30.759 It felt like rush hour at times, let me tell you, but 67 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:35.879 on bicycles. We'll talk more about that of it later. Now I have 68 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:41.120 been to three Cyclivia events so far and would like to do some compared totras, 69 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:43.519 if you'll let me, so you can get an idea on what these 70 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:47.079 events are like. The first oyclivia event I participated in was called heart of 71 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:51.360 l a. That ran for McArthur Park, which is west of downtown, 72 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:57.480 to Chinatown, with a spur in the middle of the route that ran to 73 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.519 East Los Angeles. The next event I participated in with south L A, 74 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:05.360 and that ran three miles along Western boulevard from exposition boulevard to Florence Boulevard. 75 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:12.560 The most recent event I participated in this week was called meet the Hollywood's which 76 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:16.680 could probably be a sitcom, but that joined East Hollywood, Hollywood and West 77 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:20.720 Hollywood into one long, six and a half mile route. By the way, 78 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:24.079 there is a north Hollywood. You didn't know there's so many Hollywoods, 79 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:29.079 did you? This included the iconic Hollywood walk of fame that we visited an 80 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:31.959 episode four of this podcast, and all the unique and historic buildings and theaters 81 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.720 that line in that street. Because sick Lavia has such a great relationship with 82 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:42.279 local and county government, as well as work state organizations like the California patrol, 83 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.160 they often can lobby for new events that close miles of streets and give 84 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:48.680 them back to the citizens Los Angeles for a day to explore in a new 85 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:56.839 and fun unique way. So, as described, stick Lavia closes off miles 86 00:06:56.839 --> 00:07:00.839 of streets for human power transportation. During Pasti I have always prepaid for parking 87 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:04.519 via the spot hero APP. Not a sponsor here, just the best parking 88 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:09.800 APP for the job, of my humble opinion. This time the place I 89 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:15.399 reserved was directly on the the root itself, which meant that it was closed 90 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:17.879 off. I couldn't get to it in my car. He when I was 91 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:21.800 driving a tesla. Uh, there was a side street that I could have 92 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.839 entered on the route Um, but the parking lot was still roped off with 93 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:30.759 caution tape and do not after sign. So a quick call to spot hero 94 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:33.639 got me a quick refund and sent me scurring for additional parking. And what 95 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:39.319 should have taken hours to find such a parking spot at such a heavy event 96 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:45.680 took me a miraculous five minutes, and I mean I should just be beautified 97 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:49.040 right now for this miracle, because nobody finds parking forty free from a crowded 98 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:54.040 event in Los Angeles in five minutes. I arrived just in the nick of 99 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:56.720 time too, because after I parked, I had a few cars drive by 100 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:00.680 and asked me if I was leaving. Because the organization ends reporters are trying 101 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:03.399 to encourage alternate modes of transportation, they always have their events take place within 102 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:11.519 walking distance of major public transportations. The major besides buses, the subway basically 103 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:16.040 had a couple stops along this route. All three events I have participated in 104 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:20.560 have had transportations either next to it or pretty close by, and all had 105 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:24.879 parking lots you could pay for. If I had so chosen. I could 106 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:28.279 have gone to find another parking spot via spot hero. In fact, they 107 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:33.000 encourage that, of course, but I declined. At all of CYCLIVIA's events 108 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:35.879 there are parking garages and lots that you can pay to park at, as 109 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:37.960 well as city parking. The advantage of paying for a garage or a lot 110 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:43.519 is that you can reserve for several hours or days, as opposed to Los 111 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.720 Angeles street parking, which often limits to two hours. At the downtown L 112 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:50.679 A event last year, I parked in a lot that was battle blocks out 113 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:54.039 the Macarthur Park, so a quick ride my bike up the street, dodging 114 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:58.879 people on the sidewalks selling tamales empowered movies, got me to the Western terminus 115 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:01.679 and the start of the event. The South L A event that I participated 116 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:09.720 later was approximately four blocks east of the start of Exposition Boulevard, or I 117 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:15.360 should say it was four blocks east of Exposition Park and started at Exposition Boulevard. 118 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.399 So I found easy parking at the California Science Center for fifteen dollars, 119 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:22.840 a place that will definitely be talking about later in an episode later on this 120 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:26.080 podcast. But at this event, as described earlier, meet the Hollywood's the 121 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:30.000 parking lot was more than happy to take my money, but didn't warn me 122 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.480 they'd be closing the lot for the day. So, after obtaining a refund 123 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.279 from spot hero, I ended up finding my own parking the street. Parking 124 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:41.120 costs two dollars fifty cents for two hours. Not Not a bad deal if 125 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:46.360 you can find one. The only issue is this was a long Cyclovia bike 126 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:50.840 group. The complete route took me over three hours out and back, so 127 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:56.240 I was completely expecting a parking ticket when I got back, but to my 128 00:09:56.360 --> 00:10:00.080 delight and surprise, the luck kept running. Somehow I got away with at 129 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:03.519 a parking ticket. This was likely because, to be fair, most of 130 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:07.960 the parking officers in the city were busy, busy handling crowd control for the 131 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:13.799 event. At a few intersections along the route there are traffic officers basically controlling 132 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:20.480 cars crossing over the bike path Um. But basically what they do is they 133 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:24.639 open up certain you know, because obviously if you closed miles and miles of 134 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:30.480 route Um to nothing but bikes, that would be a it's a it's already 135 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:33.399 a complete nightmare for traffic for these poor people that live in the area, 136 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:39.039 but it would be far worse. So there's little uh kind of like intersections 137 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:41.960 where people can still cross over in cars and they basically the what happens is, 138 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.360 once the parking officers realized the lights about the turn green, they block 139 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:52.480 it off with basically caution tape and hold the bikes back and let the cars 140 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:58.639 basically, you know, relieve some congestion on the side routes. But in 141 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:03.080 any case, Muh, you usually don't have to stop very long, as 142 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:09.399 usually maybe a minute or two and you're back on your way. I keep 143 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:15.039 coming back to Syclivia because of the amazing experience. There is simply something really 144 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:18.600 cool about riding your bicycle down an empty street for miles and miles on end. 145 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:24.399 One of the coolest aspects of Oclivia is everything you notice up close. 146 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.440 Um, well, it becomes more noticeable at a slower speed. It's so 147 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.200 easy to pass up hidden gyms in the car, but when you bicycle by 148 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:37.519 you simply notice so much more. This was especially true at this week's meet 149 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:41.519 the hollywoods event. Miles and miles of unique shops, attractions and small hole 150 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:46.919 in the wall restaurants immediately become noticeable as I leisurely rode my bicycle at a 151 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:52.159 comfortable ten miles per hour down the middle of a once gridlock street. The 152 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.200 route is set up with two hubs on each end, as well as additional 153 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:58.519 hubs placed periodically in the middle of the root. These hubs will often feature 154 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:05.600 free water restrooms. First a stations, information boosts, Free Bicycle Repair Austin, 155 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:09.440 sponsored by a local small bicycle shop or larger stores like our AI. 156 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:15.879 There's also cyclavia merchandise tents and a wide variety of boots for local politicians and 157 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:20.000 political hopefuls with their staff that show up to make their case or help you 158 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:24.080 with your local community issue. On top of that, there's also political advocacy 159 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.519 groups trying to sway your mind on an issue. If you're like me, 160 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:31.080 you've largely made up your mind on most issues, but since I don't live 161 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:33.480 in the city or county of Los Angeles to begin with, I largely ignore 162 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:37.639 and move on. Besides, the voters in l a have and will continue 163 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:41.600 to decide what they want out of their transportation options, and that's just not 164 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:45.120 for me to decide. Depending on how long the route is, though, 165 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:48.799 it can take you anywhere from one to three hours to travel the entire distance 166 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:52.879 out and back, and that Fiftea Mile Downtown of Lata Venice event which I 167 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:56.960 didn't attend. I'm guests and probably took closer to six hours if you're writing 168 00:12:56.039 --> 00:13:01.840 the entire route. The good news is Cyclavia is not a race or a 169 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:07.000 marathon. You can enter the route at any point along the entire closed street, 170 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:11.639 travel along it as much or little as you want and leave as you 171 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:13.600 want. There are no sign ups or numbers to wear in your back or 172 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:18.399 bike. Nobody to race or people to impress. It's simply about getting out 173 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:20.960 and enjoying the day with your family and friends and, as a bonus, 174 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:28.080 getting a little exercise. There's now regarding Cyclavia. There's obviously a political narrative 175 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:33.600 behind it, as Cyclavia and its ardent supporters clearly want to increase public interest 176 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:37.960 in bike lanes, bike paths and alternate mode to transportation. But I certainly 177 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:43.080 don't attend these events to give precedents either way. I simply have been getting 178 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:46.840 out more on my bicycle to exercise and fortunately, because I live in Socale, 179 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:50.960 there's just so many amazing you know, bike only pass all over. 180 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:54.600 Probably one of my favorites is the Marvin Brod, or is it Brody Mervin? 181 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:58.200 Brod bike path that goes from will rogers all the way down to Venice 182 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:03.679 just an APP really amazing ride, though often crowded on weekends, but on 183 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:09.000 that side track. Um, that's really the trick to exercise, isn't it? 184 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:13.279 Speaking of exercise, if you don't like running for hours on the treadmill, 185 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:18.240 then don't. Instead of buying a two thousand dollar treadmill, go out 186 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:22.320 and enjoy a hike. If you don't like trudging through the woods, being 187 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:24.919 eaten alive by mosquitoes while carrying a heavy pack on your back up a hill, 188 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:31.320 learn scuba dive. If you're afraid to get in the ocean because jaws 189 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:35.200 is out there, or Ursula or Captain Nemo, then try riding your bike. 190 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:39.440 You see where I'm going with this. You're not going to enjoy be 191 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:43.080 motivated to keep doing exercise if you absolutely hate it. I hate exercise, 192 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:48.360 but I found ways to get out and exercise by doing things that are fun. 193 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.639 Some of you like sports. You don't go out and play baseball or 194 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:54.759 soccer or you know. I find something you like to do and go for 195 00:14:54.799 --> 00:15:03.960 it, and I found that biking at these events is absolutely stunning, Um, 196 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.039 and really fun. It's it's really fun to be riding your bike down 197 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:13.799 a major road that previously heavily trafficked, you know, cars and and buses 198 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.679 and all kinds of motorcycles. Um, and on top of that, the 199 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.679 unique locations they often choose for these, like, let's say, downtown to 200 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:26.720 La. You know, riding your bike in the middle amongst towering skyscrapers is 201 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:31.039 just all inspiring to look up and just you're on a bike in the middle 202 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:35.159 of a huge concrete path or asphalt path and it's just skyscrapers all around you. 203 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:41.879 It's just a really cool experience and honestly, it's almost apocalyptic with internal 204 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:46.200 combustion, with no internal combustion engines around, or at least it would have 205 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:50.039 been if we wasn't for the dozens of bicycles and people around me. But 206 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:54.240 it's almost as if autumn doll bills weren't invented. The best way I could 207 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:58.480 probably describe what it's like to go to one of these events is it's like 208 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:03.480 being transported to an altar n dimension where everyone gets around on human power transportation 209 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:07.559 as opposed to cars, buses and planes. But that said, one thing 210 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:11.600 is for sure. The driving habits of people in cars easily transfers over to 211 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:17.799 bicycles. Especially at some of the more crowded events or on narrow, narrowing 212 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:21.840 street pass along the route. The ugliness of California drivers does come out. 213 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.679 Sometimes I've been cut off by other bikes. People have stopped in the middle 214 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.480 of the route right in front of me, forced me to slow my brakes. 215 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:32.600 A group of, you know, people not paying attention will sometimes be 216 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:37.639 riding in a slow five mile per hour you know, ride blocking the entire 217 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:40.600 road so you can't pass. You know, the usual stuff we deal with 218 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:45.720 on so cal's freeways. I have also seen vagrants standing on sidewalks screaming the 219 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:52.080 worst utter filth you can possibly imagine at passing bicyclists. Um, just like 220 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:56.200 I have seen homeowners in south L A brating random lapdofsters that are only trying 221 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:00.080 to block traffic to keep event participants safe. We'll talk a little bit more 222 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:07.359 about that in safety but um now, depending on which cyclovia event you choose 223 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:14.279 to participate in, there will either be food trucks or plenty of restaurants available 224 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:17.720 and open view, for example, at the heart of l a event, 225 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:22.160 there was both food trucks and plenty of restaurants to enjoy. At the south 226 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:26.920 L A event, there was multiple food trucks, um basically there to supplement 227 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:30.920 the few restaurants that were along Western boulevard on this particular route. At the 228 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:33.519 meat of the at the meat the Hollywood events, the one I attended just 229 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:37.640 a few days ago, there were so many small restaurants and fast food joints 230 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:42.119 crammed along you know, Hollywood and highland and uh, basically those streets that 231 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:47.880 the food trucks were weren't really invited. I didn't see a single food truck 232 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:52.160 on the entire route. The location I chose to eat at at the meat 233 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:56.960 the Hollywood events was near the West Hollywood hub and was a small burger joint 234 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:02.440 called Hollywood burghers. The inside is decorated with typical Hollywood scene pictures of iconic 235 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:07.920 film locations or Hollywood legends. The lights were giant adorned stars with glowing led 236 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:11.359 bulbs, and a Coca Cola freestyle machine was the Cherry on top, offering 237 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:15.279 me a nice cold power ad or punished what I lost on the trip over. 238 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:18.480 I Have The v I P bacon cheeseburger with fries and a drink, 239 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:26.039 which came out including tip. Two photos will be on the website one day 240 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:33.559 at Social Dot Com. So with all these bicycles and human power transportations, 241 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:37.480 you know that's supposed to be on this route and at these events, there 242 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:41.039 are some rules to be mindful of when attending Cyclivia. In general, only 243 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:47.319 people power transportation is permitted. This includes bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, 244 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:52.880 scooters, skateboards, unicycles, tricycles, walking, running and power wheelchairs 245 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.559 or mobility school scooters if you have a disability. What is not allowed at 246 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:00.960 Cyclivia? Or Electric Scooters. Have Boards, not those hoverboards, but yes, 247 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:07.559 hoverboards, electric skateboards, segues, electric guittor cycles, mopeds, motorbikes, 248 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:14.119 motorcycles, cars, tanks, airplanes, you know. So what about 249 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:17.759 e bikes? There is a lot of contention. Let me tell you, 250 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:21.920 as an as an omnibike rider and as an ebike rider, there is a 251 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:26.599 lot of contention in the biking community. Contention. Um, there's a lot 252 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:33.599 of yeah, Um, there's there's a lot of back and forth on our 253 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:37.440 e bikes, bikes, and should they be allowed on certain paths and everything 254 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:41.640 else, but in general, if you want to just face reality, e 255 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.599 bikes are here to stay, whether traditional bicyclists like it or not. I 256 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:49.279 ride any bike and while I have never been confronted or talked down to for 257 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:53.640 doing so, I have heard many stories of people that have. There's a 258 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:57.279 great shirt I was once at tempted to buy it stated e biking. Yes, 259 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:03.279 it's cheating. Yes, I just past two. I get some of 260 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:07.680 that contention. But Um, because you know I get it. I heard 261 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:14.480 some horror stories from traditional bicyclists about the bikers speeding twenty to thirty miles per 262 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:18.880 hour on throttle only, down sidewalks and bike pass and running traditional bicyclists or 263 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:23.279 pedestrians off the path. But on that same note, I've seen traditional bicyclists 264 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:26.599 not following the rules of the road either, bursting through stop signs, not 265 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.960 signaling, etc. bicyclists riding on the road are allowed to do so in 266 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:36.200 California, but technically need to follow the rules of the road while doing so. 267 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.759 So each group has their select bone headed individuals not following the rules. 268 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:45.000 And Short Story Long, e bikes are permitted at Cyclivia as long as you're 269 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:48.640 as long as you're using some kind of pedal power, so, E. 270 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:52.559 Bikes. They have throttles, a lot of them have throttles and a lot 271 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:56.839 of them have pedal assists, and usually there's different levels of pedal assists, 272 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:59.720 so one through five, sometimes it's one through three, depends on your bike 273 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:03.279 model. But let's say I put on pedalists to give me a little push, 274 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.799 you know, to make up for the battery and the heavy bike, 275 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:10.960 because the bikes are generally far more heavier than regular bicycles, and that's totally 276 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:17.759 okay and legal um or just permitted, you know, at Syclivia. Now, 277 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:21.640 all that set above, I will plainly state that I have seemed all 278 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:26.519 kinds of motorized vehicles participating in Sycolivia and have never seen enforcement at all. 279 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:33.599 The only enforcement I have ever witnessed is law enforcement stopping a car which accidentally 280 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:37.519 turned onto the route, which is obviously a bicycles and human power transportation only 281 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:41.519 event. And on that note, let's talk about some of my thoughts on 282 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:47.319 safety and security at these events. At every Syclivia event I have ever attended, 283 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:52.119 law enforcement was very active and made the presidents done due to the politics 284 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:53.920 and culture in south L A. L A P D was on hand, 285 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:59.240 but they were off to the side, really tucked away intersections. Sure nobody 286 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:02.920 drove onto the street or, you know, came in from the side streets. 287 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:07.279 They were there, but they were trying to not be they're kind of 288 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:11.559 trying to kind of hide away and not be noticeable as much as possible. 289 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:15.240 Um, that's just due to the, like I said, the culture and 290 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.839 the you know, the political climate involving, you know, south L A, 291 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:23.160 and it's a relationship with law enforcement at the meat the Hollywood's event. 292 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:27.160 Police weren't just at every single intersection, they were also in the middle of 293 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:33.119 the street and actively interacting positively with participants. Most CYCLOVIA events have L APD 294 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:37.319 officers on the street, but because West Hollywood was included in this event, 295 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:41.960 La County Sheriff's deputies were on scene to protect the public and help participants as 296 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:45.079 needed. This is because West Hollywood is an independent city in the county of 297 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:48.200 Los Angeles, as opposed to Hollywood, which is just a neighborhood of the 298 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:52.359 city of Los Angeles. Because West Hollywood doesn't have its own police department, 299 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:57.039 they contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for Police Services. The police 300 00:22:57.039 --> 00:23:02.160 and deputies are on hand to protecting, sir, and protect and serve they 301 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:06.279 did, and I have witnessed that at least twice on this event at meath, 302 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:10.039 the Hollywood's at one point on the route I approached a man on the 303 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:12.359 sidewalk with a bloodied head. He evidently had crashed his bike and was not 304 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:17.759 wearing a helmet and l a county sheriff's deputy was on hand almost immediately to 305 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:21.559 check on him and call for Light County fire to assist. Eli County fire 306 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:25.960 did roll right down the middle of the event and thankfully all participants moved to 307 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:29.319 the side of the street just like they would in a car. During another 308 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:33.400 incident and an intersection, a car got confused and turned into the bike group 309 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:37.599 where participants were riding their bikes. A quick reacting sheriff's deputy jumped off the 310 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:41.640 side rock to confront the driver and also jumped off. I also jumped off 311 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.680 my bike and stood in the middle of the road and sure he didn't go 312 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:48.440 any further. Fortunately the driver was just confused. But this goes into my 313 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:52.480 main safety and security problem with Oclivia and something I made. Had need to 314 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:56.799 have a chat with the organization itself about these events. Need to be blocked 315 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:03.440 off from vehicles by concrete barriers, are barriers or heavy vehicles. In that 316 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.960 particular incident with the car that was turning onto the road by accident under the 317 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:10.839 route, I was on my way back from West Hollywood, from the West 318 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:14.359 Hollywood hub, after completing the entire route, and while I was standing there 319 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:18.720 preventing an entire Um, while I was standing there preventing an entire car from 320 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:22.680 passing me up with my human body as a shield, some suburban white ladies 321 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:26.240 on bikes were buried in the deputy. As they drove by, they kept 322 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:29.960 saying it's okay, it's okay, it's not a big deal, it's okay, 323 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:33.039 live another day, as if the deputy was completely overreacting to the situation, 324 00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:37.880 which he wasn't, because the deputy sees a car turn and start to 325 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:41.519 drive down the road and he jumps out the for all he knows, this 326 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:45.920 is a terrorist incident, Um, and the car just slams on the brakes, 327 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.519 you know, to avoid hitting the deputy. It's running out in the 328 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:52.640 street. Um. Some of these folks. Not to get too political, 329 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:57.440 but some of these folks that live in this and surrounding communities just hate cops. 330 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:03.720 To hate cops period, and it just they just do. And on 331 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:06.480 this particular event, and I actually have a recorded on film, I'm gonna 332 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:08.680 try to upload it on Youtube and share it on the one day and Silk 333 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:14.119 Call Dot Com web page. But the issue is it's a long video shot 334 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.599 in four K, so I don't know if Youtube is gonna let me uploaded 335 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:18.240 that long with the video. I'll try, UM, just keep a lookout 336 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:22.480 for it or I'll upload it somewhere else and and posted on either way we'll 337 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:25.519 get it up there so you can actually see the the whole incident if you 338 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:27.920 want, including these uh, suburban white ladies, you know, burrating the 339 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:32.200 deputy and just being jerks, and the whole depute is trying to do is 340 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:34.640 keep them safe, you know. So the depute share faster me and professional, 341 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:38.279 all right, but now that I've changed careers from law enforcement to I 342 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:41.759 t I sure as hell didn't. I turned and told these ladies it's not 343 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:45.599 gonna be okay when this car runs you over on your bike. Idiots. 344 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:49.200 Um, I was pound ticked off that. You know, they were kind 345 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:53.960 of being rude about it. But Um, granted, you know, I 346 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:57.519 might have been a hypocrite standing there using my body as a human shield against 347 00:25:57.559 --> 00:26:00.720 the car. Um, it wasn't like I couldn't jump out of the way 348 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:04.079 if I had to. But you know, the deputy, if the car 349 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:08.200 would have kept going, he might have had open fire or you know, 350 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:11.599 look, try to make a quick decision. It is this car. Is 351 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:15.599 this car really trying to run people over, or was this just an accident? 352 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:18.640 You know, these kind of split second decisions these deputy's gotta make sometimes. 353 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:23.279 Um Again, I'll have that video upload on my website one day as 354 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:29.640 socill dot com. So, with that said, on this last week's episode 355 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:33.079 we went to Las Vegas. Right, I often attend new years in Las 356 00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:36.960 Vegas on the Strip. Likes Oclivia, Las Vegas closes off most of its 357 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:42.519 iconic strip to cars and allows one huge, almost endless block party where people 358 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:48.119 can walk around up and down Las Vegas Boulevard. These type of events are 359 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:52.359 a prime target for a criminal and terrorist activity. We've seen this over and 360 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:57.000 over and over again, guys. We've seen it in London and Paris. 361 00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:04.640 We've seen it at the WAUKESHA Christmas parade attack. Um, these kind of 362 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:10.680 things, these kind of attacks, you know, whether just criminal or accidental 363 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:15.759 or terrorists. UH, they're completely preventable. Now in Las Vegas, each 364 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:18.960 block of the Strip during New Year's is blocked off not with barriers but a 365 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:25.359 huge city bus, and I'm talking those double long connected city buses that stretch 366 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:30.039 over an entire boulevard. Nobody is getting through something like that with anything less 367 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:33.119 than a tank, and, as someone does, still a tank. You 368 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:36.680 know. Lass of vegasfortunately has NOLA's air force based down the road, that 369 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:41.119 a couple of six teams can handle. Um, on top of that, 370 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:47.319 every single metro police officer that isn't on duty is rounded up and divorced over 371 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:49.880 time on each section of the Strip, ready to spring into action at a 372 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:56.480 moment's notice if necessary. Now, comparing that to the sick Lavilla, streets 373 00:27:56.480 --> 00:28:02.519 are blocked off with plastic for Raime, traffic barrier signs and caution TEP. 374 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:07.559 This means that somebody with nefarious intentions, to put them mildly, can drive 375 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:14.880 indosticulave into Cyclivia um from a side street and you know, cause a tragedy. 376 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:18.000 I don't think I need to go any further on what can happen, 377 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:21.720 but I think it's an issue that should be addressed. We should be proactive 378 00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:26.200 on this kind of situation, as opposed to reactive as we are in many 379 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:29.480 areas of society. Right. So, with that out of the way, 380 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:33.119 I just wanted to want to make sure I got that in there because I 381 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:36.000 notice these kind of things and, uh, it doesn't take away from my 382 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:40.200 enjoyment or you know, it's not like I'm I'm thinking about it constantly every 383 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:44.599 moment of the second of my my of my day, but these things do 384 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:47.240 know, you know, come up and I just noticed a little things like 385 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:49.519 that that that need to be addressed, I think, and hopefully I can 386 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:52.720 get with the is Oclivia folks, you know, over email or otherwise, 387 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:56.559 and and let them know hey, you know, we should be protecting the 388 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:02.119 participants in this way. Um. So the only other issue I have had 389 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:07.559 with Oyclivia are with vagrants. It's, of course, sad and tragic to 390 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:11.599 see a mile after mile of them sleeping on the sidewalk or intents or um 391 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:17.720 shooting up drugs or begging for money, but that's what I have seen at 392 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:22.400 every Syclivia event I've attended. Some of the vagrants have also evolved, for 393 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:25.920 lack of better words. I saw a vagrant tent made out of the storage 394 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.680 shed and a vinyl plastic car storage tent. It included a flagpole with the 395 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:33.200 Mexican flag flying from it, two solar panels, a generator and a small 396 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:37.799 air conditioning unit. The quick look I got inside of this uh, you 397 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:42.799 know, borderline house showed carpeting and furniture inside, and this was right off 398 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:47.960 Hollywood Boulevard in front of a business, with no enforcement or actions by the 399 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.759 city. Most vagrants that intermingle with people along these roots are harmless, but 400 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:56.160 a few can be more than intimidating to some. At the downtown PSYCLIVIA event 401 00:29:56.319 --> 00:30:02.000 heart of L A, I had one vagran screaming and cursing as each bike 402 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:04.359 passed by, whether it was an eighty five year old retiree or a two 403 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:08.000 year old on a tricycle. I actually stopped and watched this guy while he 404 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:12.440 was doing this Um and he immediately took notice and started sharing his vocabulary of 405 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:17.240 expletives with me. Fortunately, he was all talk and didn't want to get 406 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:21.319 physical confrontations, as I didn't, but I was there and I would have 407 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:23.599 been more than happy to step in if you did it decided to attack somebody 408 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:29.000 on a bicycle or otherwise. Nonetheless, just to be aware that, while 409 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:33.920 there is vagrancy and other possible security issues, police are almost always steps away. 410 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:40.279 Speaking of two year olds on tricycles, kids of all ages have an 411 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:45.119 absolute blasted Cyclovia. There are even certain areas where they can color or play 412 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:48.519 with toys at the hubs. I've seen everything from newborns and child seat carriers 413 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:53.799 on bicycles or on bike trailers to teenagers cruising along on Skateboards, and everything 414 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:57.079 in between, from scooters to trikes to proud children that just learned how to 415 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:02.720 ride a bike without trading wheel. And, as stated, you don't have 416 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:04.960 to ride out ride the whole route, pick a few miles you were interested 417 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:11.759 in and have a family right and enjoy the day. Cyclivia, the kind 418 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:17.559 of top it off here, is an absolutely amazing event and it's a massive 419 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:21.039 boost of local businesses, especially after the struggles of the last few years. 420 00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:25.640 As I ride my bike down major boulevards open to me at my slow pace, 421 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:30.279 I discover all kinds of stores, restaurants, shops I've never heard of, 422 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:34.680 shops I have heard of but never seen or couldn't find. Um people 423 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:38.400 tune up their bikes and you'll see all kinds of unique setups, you know, 424 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:42.400 from chrome to gold, to all wood, to a guy bicycling on 425 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:47.640 a couch down the street to a trailer blasting music and bubbles. There was 426 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:51.160 this guy riding a bicycle that was about ten feet high and I couldn't even 427 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.960 figure out how he managed to get up there or how he was going to 428 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:56.279 get off in the first place, especially at the mandatory disbounce around the hubs 429 00:31:56.599 --> 00:32:00.680 are all waiting at intersection to let cars cross over. I even saw cheach 430 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:06.039 and Chong impersonators riding low riding bicycles at Chinatown during the heart of Hollywood event, 431 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.720 and when I first saw these guys, I honestly thought they were the 432 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:13.799 real cheach and Chong because they were so freaking spot on. But I had 433 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:17.160 to remind myself that Chacha Chong are like what hundred five now, so it 434 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:21.640 couldn't have been, but they really looked like them. It was just amazing. 435 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:24.039 Uh. Now, all that said, I do feel for the homeowners 436 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:30.000 that live in or around a Sticklivia area or somebody that's conducting, you know, 437 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:34.720 trying to get to work, because when initially traveling this event, I 438 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:37.279 missed my exit on the one one freeway and had to get off in the 439 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:40.160 next off ramp, and I immediately regretted my mistake because as soon as I 440 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:45.200 got off I was in major gridlock traffic. I made a left on, 441 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:47.799 you know, to loop across the bread to get back on the freeway in 442 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:51.680 the other direction, but cars were so backed up trying to get onto the 443 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:53.559 freeway that I just had to keep going unless I was gonna be blocking traffic 444 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:58.839 in the middle of the intersection. I decided, okay, well, I 445 00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:00.279 can't get back on the freeways, so I'll just take a side street down 446 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:05.759 get back to where I was um which, of course, was a mistake 447 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:08.839 because sick Lavia had it blocked off. So I had to park in a 448 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:13.960 red zone and check Google maps, along with the sick Lavia CYC Lavia event 449 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.559 page, for a map of basically a boulevard that I could actually cross on. 450 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:21.799 Finally I found one and eventually reached it and was stuck in bumper to 451 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:25.240 bumper standstill traffic behind the city bus, which had to make its own stops 452 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:30.039 periodically. This took an additional forty five minutes or so to go maybe two 453 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:34.240 miles, and I can see how frustrating this might be if you live in 454 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:37.359 the area. So if I lived in this city area when the Cyclavia was 455 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:43.200 going on, I'd probably just scratch it off my calendar and just take the 456 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:45.519 event, you know, and go and enjoy the event or take a short 457 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:52.200 vacation or stay home and, uh and watch them deadwood or something, because 458 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:58.640 there's no getting out there basically a prisoner. Um. So that's my thoughts 459 00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:04.839 on Cyclavia overall. Absolutely incredible and unique of experience that you that you can 460 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:07.519 attend if you live in the area or if you happen to be visiting socal 461 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:12.320 during one of these events. You know, jump in. Um, I 462 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:15.079 can't say I sign on to you know, but behind the scenes activism get 463 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:21.280 ready to cars and Um, allowing everyone except the rich and famous, you 464 00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:23.760 know, you know, forcing everybody except the rich and famous to use pelic 465 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:29.800 transportation of bicycles. But I still love attending these events, even if you 466 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:32.719 are visiting and didn't likely bring your bicycle with you, as I can imagine 467 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:37.119 you didn't you know you can run out a metro bicycle or find a shop 468 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:40.199 toront one from. Remember, Cyclivia is not a race or a marathon. 469 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:45.239 You don't need to complete the route from start or finish or at any particular 470 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:51.360 spot. You can write anything non motorized, with exceptions of disabled folks or 471 00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:53.400 an electric bicycle, as long as you have to throw at disabled. I 472 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:58.960 didn't have mind disabled, but the reason why I don't disabled minds because it's 473 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:01.159 really helpful just to kind to get a kickstart. You know when when, 474 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:07.559 for example, when I get off at a when I'm parked Um with at 475 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:10.559 one of the intersections where the cars are crossing over, you know I'm in 476 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:14.880 a big crowd of people and instead of trying to pedal, you know, 477 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:16.920 because sometimes I might already have it in a high year, I just click 478 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:22.159 on the throttle real quick to get a boost and then start pedaling. Um. 479 00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:25.320 If you do bring electric scooter, skateboard or don't disable your electric bicycle 480 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:30.239 like me, it's not likely you're going to be bothered by event organizers or 481 00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:34.880 police, as enforcement is pre lax, unless you are actually driving a gasoline 482 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:38.559 powered vehicle down the closed street. If you do that, expect law enforcement 483 00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:43.199 action, up to and including being pulled out of your vehicle at gunpoint as 484 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:46.880 a police to attempt to figure out what your intentions are. So just don't 485 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:52.159 do that. Because these events are free, bring the whole family and enjoy 486 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:54.360 it right down the middle of the street. Maybe stop by a cool restaurant, 487 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:58.679 try something new. I think you will enjoy these events as much as 488 00:35:58.760 --> 00:36:01.840 I do. I never missed them anymore. Every time one's announced, and 489 00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:07.800 they're usually announced months in advance, you know I'm there. Well, that's 490 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:09.480 going to do it for this week's episode. Tune in next week is I 491 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:15.280 returned for the first time to a sport that I haven't participated in years. 492 00:36:15.320 --> 00:37:24.519 Here's a hint. Take it away, sebastion m thanks for listening, folks. 493 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:30.400 Please visit the website one day in so cal dot com and, if 494 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:32.960 you enjoyed this podcast, consider subscribing. Feel free to leave me tips and 495 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:37.000 Info on how I can improve. Thanks again. Back The blue