While everyone knows Los Angeles is a city for cars and not for pedestrians, and that I happen to be able to enjoy everyday driving my own car here and there, from the Valley to the beach, from the beach to the valley, etc, I do like my bike and the adrenaline I get from riding it from time to time.
I don't go too far, I usually just go for a little ride in my area, avoiding the night because I can't see all the dips and bumps on the road or on the sidewalks!
Recently I got sick of doing the same little trips. I always thought it was not pleasant to walk or cycle in such a huge city, with all the traffic and the danger. But you know what? Let's go for it anyway.
Actually many people, young people, can't afford a car and have to use a bike to go anywhere (or take buses, but that is another story). I have met once a teen boy, who had found my lost cell phone and had cycled for 2 hours in Los Angeles to bring it back to me (I gave him some money and thanked him, I had no idea he had to do that).
March 9th, 2017: My way to Burbank cycling on sidewalks. Going on Magnolia blvd, itinary#1.
10:30 in the morning.
As I am not a very well organized person, this morning I just jumped on my bike thinking I would check out my "itinary", meaning that I'm going to look for the best way to Burbank, and once I'll find it, I will be able to film my little trip.
My idea was to find some informations first, but then the desire to ride my bike that day came first.
I had the plan to leave the house and go on Magnolia blvd pretty much all the way, straight to Burbank, because there is quite a lot to see on Magnolia: shops, people, then NoHo district, etc.. and yet, it is not such a wide road with huge traffic.
I sometimes drive through Magnolia blvd when I go to Burbank on some shopping trip or for a movie night out. It takes me usually between 15 to 20mns to get there from Studio City.
But I've never been on my bike that far!
A lot of people do cycle everyday like I said. I'm going to write about that experience.
What a little adventure for a woman like me, who goes hiking twice a week, goes to the beach on week-ends but don't do so much exercice otherwise.
The road I went on first was Whitsett ave. There have been lots of construction work lately, they are changing "all the pipes", it's been going on for years, and the road is narrowed by all the construction and the construction vehicles.
There isn't enough sidewalks all the way so it was quite rough to cycle there this morning. I managed to go all the way to Magnolia blvd and made a right turn onto it which was my plan for now.
-Am I going to get a ticket if I cycle too much on the sidewalks of L.A?..
If I don't want to get stopped by the Police, I guess I should not cycle on the sidewalks at all, but I kind of feel that this is the safest way for me to do this!
I know there are biking trails in the City, nearby, but I have the feeling they are just as dangerous with the cars driving next to the bikes and making turns all the time...
But I will check them out as well, we never know.
I wish the cycling trails would be safer: they could all be built within the sidewalks, because the City is so spread out, and the roads and streets are wide, that would be possible.
I'm looking for a nice itinary so that I can film my trip all the way to Burbank, and come back... safely.
So, this morning I was cycling on Magnolia blvd and I got greeted by people walking on the sidewalks (yes, can you believe it people walking outside in L.A!). I actually was on their way, but I was careful not to bump into them and let them plenty of space so they wouldn't be scared of my bike passing by... I know I'm not supposed to cycle on sidewalks, so let's respect pedestrians.
A pittbull kind of scared me a little, I had to go on the road for a bit, and come back on the sidewalks after it was out of my sight. Then I met a mother pushing a stroller (you have to be super carefull with strollers and children!). I put my feet down on the ground and let her go first.
You also have to watch out for postmen, delivery trucks and traffic...
Suddenly I heard some children singing "Happy birthday!" to their friend, as I was passing by a middle school. That was sweet to hear.
After like 15mns I made a right turn on Colfax ave. By that time I had left my house since like 30mns and as I had to go to my class (I'm a student) I had to head back.
Cycling on Colfax was less enjoyable. I kept going on on the sidewalk which is strangely narrow in comparison to the widness of the road... and the way was full of bumps and dips and postholes to avoid...
Then I made a right turn into Moorpark Ave., and trouble started: no sidewalk anymore on both sides!
I had to cross the middle of the road to switch from one side of the road to the other in order to stay on a sidewalk.
The road was kind of busy but when I did that, there was luckily little traffic for a few seconds
That was so not a thing to do anyway, I could have got a big ticket for it!!
Finally I got back home using sidewalks again and backstreets all the way to my house, which I am used to...
My back was hurting a little but I felt the benefit of the work out on the rest of my body.
Now, I'm thinking I should of course bring some water and maybe wear a mask next time! My nose got stuffy from the warm dry air and pollution of L.A, but it wasn't windy at all, so not so bad!..
So the results for today are the following: 40mns cycling, goal (Burbank) not reached, Colfax ave. and Moorpark to be avoided for the return - if I want to ride back all the way using sidewalks.
Cecile
March 11th, 2017
In the evening I actually had a headache, so I'm a bit concerned it happens again after cycling in the city, we'll see!
If this works out well, I may cycle all the way to the beach on another adventure!
Sounds scary when you know it takes an hour on the freeway to get there...
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