Los Angeles River Ride

This ride was first held in May 2001, and the first one that I participated in was May 19, 2002 and I returned for the May 18, 2003 version of the ride.

The bike path along the Los Angeles River is not complete, and I saw this as an opportunity to learn the bike path and the surface route where the path has not been constructed. There were several options available in the ride including a round trip between the Griffith Park starting point and the Bike Station in Long Beach, which is the one I took. Free return transportation to Union Station via the Metro Blue Line trolley was also available, but as much as I would have enjoyed riding the Blue Line for the first time I elected to ride my bicycle back to Griffith Park in the 2002 ride. For the 2003 ride I rode over to Terminal Island, San Pedro, around the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Redondo Beach and the end of the Green Trolley line. Other options included a 40 km ride to the Los Angeles River Center and back. A map of the 2002 ride appears at the conclusion [MAP].

I bypassed the first rest stop in 2002, because I simply missed the sharp turn to get into the River Center. I made the River Center stop in 2003, because I was aware of the turn. The second stop was at Dills Park in the City of Paramount, which is pictured above. The motion present in this park setting is not captured in this photo. There were two switchbacks on the access between the bike way and the park with a nearly steady stream of bikers coming and going and others trying to dance to the 60s era music on the loudspeakers. The line on the left is for the restroom facilities (the real reason for my stop here on the way to Long Beach).

In 2002 I had originally planned to make a century ride out of the LA River Ride by riding from my house in Altadena to the starting point in the LA Zoo parking lot at Griffith Park, but when I awakened it was raining pretty good. Weather reports available through the Internet and the Los Angeles Times did not indicate the extent of the system, which I then assumed to be a local marine layer situation. I then put the bicycle in the truck and drove to Griffith Park with the intention of making a "go no-go" decision at the park. I settled for a "metric" century of 100 km. In 2003 I rode from home to Griffth Park and followed two friends (Dave and Christy) on an "adventure" to Terminal Island, San Pedro, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Redondo Beach, and catching the Green trolley line. We then transferred to the Blue line and finally to the Red line ending up in North Hollywood. From there I road to Dave's home in Burbank, and he gave me a ride to my house in Altadena, since it was now nearly 9:30 p.m.

There was a variety of bicycle types on this ride ranging from children on their bikes, mountain trail bikes, road bikes and recumbents. The bike pictured above impressed me in 2002 as a quasi-recumbent, because of the more conventional placement of the handlebars, apparently higher seat and placement of the front wheel well in front. During the 2003 ride I pulled along side this gentlemen during the ride and discussed his recumbent. He felt it was probably the only one of its kind left on the road. It was made by Huffy, and not too many of them were made.

The route slips provided by the organizers of the ride proved to be confusing in 2002, but fortunately the route was very well marked with posted signs. In 2003 I simply followed the signs, because the route slip was not a standard size. In 2002 the downtown L.A. area was fun, but was marred by three cyclists taking a fall while crossing railroad tracks. Movement on the surface streets was fast once past the downtown area. The 2003 route avoided the downtown area and kept more to the east side avoiding a passage over the Los Angeles River that did not have adequate room for bicyclists.

In 2002 my first rest stop was at Dills Park in the City Paramount. I stood off to one side and was impressed with the movement of bicycles in and out of the park as well as along the bike way. This ride earned a reputation as poorly supported in its first year, but in 2002 and 2003 there appeared to be adequate refreshments and in 2003 I saw some of the SAG vehicles along the route..

The Los Angeles River (viewed looking north) from the area near Dill's Park in the City of Paramount. South of the Pasadena Freeway and the entry of the Arroyo Seco there are levees on both side of the river. I understand that at one time the Los Angeles River frequently changed route with winter flooding, and even reached as far west as the Hughes Air Port in the Hawthorne area during the early 20th century. There are currently plans to return an earthen bottom and a meandering route to more stretches of the river with park areas along the sides.

 
The Bicycle Station in The Promenade area of the City of Long Beach is shown above. This was the southern extreme and turnaround point for the ride. The Metro Blue Line could be caught either at the north or the south side of this block.

 

Riding through the downtown area of Long Beach provided glimpses of the harbor area and the ocean including the Queen Mary at anchor. As with the downtown area of Los Angeles there was not much traffic due to it being Sunday. However, in 2003 it was apparent that these views are quickly disappearing due to the construction of high rise buildings along the business street paralleling the beach.

Metro Blue Line arriving at the south side of the block. Bicycles could be loaded at the back of the rear car. Information regarding bicycles on the Metro rail systems is available at: http://www.mta.net/metro_transit/metro_rail/ride/mr_bicycle.htm. Riding is limited to off hours during the week, so be sure to check available hours when planning a trip. On the 2003 ride I saw one of the Blue Line cars that was painted in the tradition of the original Pacific Electric cars that ran on this same general route until the 1960s.

Three of the riders with whom I rode in 2002. Jerry (center) was a regular rider with the L. A. Wheelmen on their Wednesday ride prior to moving to the high desert. He knew the two ladies from the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club. The white dots on the their jerseys were "earned" upon signing the log at the Bicycle Station in Long Beach. There was no such log that I could find to sign for the 2003 ride.

Map notes: [COLOR MAP and ride flier]

First Detour:

(2002 version)

The LA River bike way begins where Victory Blvd. crosses the LA River. For this ride entry to the bike path was off of Zoo Drive which allows the convenience of the zoo's parking lot for your automobile. Below Fletcher Drive it may be best to use Riverside Drive, which is just west of the bike path and the river. The bike path below Fletcher is very rough and speed is slow.

Turn right onto San Fernando Road after crossing the river.

Turn right on Broadway/Spring Street after passing Pasadena Ave.

Spring will "Y" to the left. Stay on Spring going over the bridge. There is not very much space on the right for a bicycle so you probably would be best "taking the lane" while going over the bridge.

Spring Street will become Alameda Street. Watch out for railroad crossings, and try to cross the rails as close to 90 degrees as practical.

After passing Union Station and Olvera Street turn left on Olympic Blvd. (about 2.0 miles past Union Station).

Turn right on Grande Vista Ave after 1.8 miles. Grande Vista will become Downey Road.

After about 1.6 miles after turning on to Grande Vista Ave. turn left onto District Blvd. for 1.4 miles.

After crossing Atlantic turn to the left onto the LA River bike way.

Second Detour:

A second detour was required between Alondra and Artesia Blvd. More information on this detour is available at: http://members.ispwest.com/n6mm/rides/river/beach.htm#detour

This detour was still in effect for the 2003 ride, plus there was a stretch between Imperial Highway and Dills Park where the cyclists were routed onto the horse path. I saw several individuals engaged in fixing flat tires at the conclusion of that stretch. It was definitely hostile for road bikes.

 

26 June 2002 and updated 31 May 2003.