L.A. ON TWO WHEELS; RIORDAN JOINS CYCLISTS TO KICK OFF FIRST LEG OF BIKEWAY.Byline: Janet Gilmore Daily News Staff Writer Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. and more than 200 bicycling enthusiasts officially opened a 3.2-mile bike path Monday along the Los Angeles River The Los Angeles River is an intermittent river flowing through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the west end of the San Fernando Valley, 51 miles (82 km) southeast to its mouth in Long Beach. near Griffith Park Griffith Park is a large public park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is situated in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers 4,210 acres (17 km²) of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America. . The three-mile path is the first completed leg of the Los Angeles River Bikeway bike·way n. A bicycle lane or path. , an ambitious project that officials hope will extend from Canoga Park to Olvera Street Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is otherwise known as the birthplace of the City of Angels or El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument and is a department within the city. near downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or in the next five years. ``This is a fantastic day for Los Angeles,'' Riordan said in a prepared statement. ``Today's celebration is just the beginning of our efforts to create a world-class bikeway connecting neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles.'' For more than eight years, city officials and others planned for a bike path that would allow cyclists to follow the length of the river from Canoga Park to Long Beach without a stop sign or traffic light to slow them down. The first leg of the project features a smooth asphalt path, newly planted shrubbery, guardrails, lights, emergency call boxes and flashing yellow lights to alert passing equestrians. The newly opened path follows the river and the Golden State Freeway The Golden State Freeway is a north-south freeway running through Kern County and Los Angeles County, California. Originally built as U.S. Highway 99, it was re-signed as Interstate 5 in 1964. from their intersection with Colorado Street and continues, nonstop, to the intersection of Los Feliz Boulevard. ``It's a fascinating place,'' said Tom LaBonge Tom LaBonge (b. Los Angeles 1953), member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 4th district. He has served since 2001, taking over the position upon the death of John Ferraro. , Riordan's special assistant. ``There are a lot of ducks in that river and a lot of cranes.'' Other views? Two-legged creatures in cars who are traveling the nearby freeway en route to work. When completed, the entire bike path is expected to cost $1.7 million, paid for with funds from the city and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Alex Baum, a cycling enthusiast and chairman of Los Angeles' Bicycle Advisory Committee, hopes the project eventually will allow commuters to abandon their cars and cycle to work. He also thinks families will bike downtown to Chinatown and Olvera street on weekends. For now, however, Baum said he has enjoyed the brisk ride during the evening hours and during the day. ``At night it's really peaceful,'' Baum said. ``It's quiet. You see the park. It's gorgeous.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Map Photo: (1) Mayor Richard Riordan, center, and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, right, lead the inaugural ride on the new Los Angeles River Bikeway. The path follows the river and the Golden State Freeway from their intersection with Colorado Street and continues, nonstop, to the intersection of Los Feliz Boulevard. Officials hope it will extend from Canoga Park to Olvera Street near downtown Los Angeles. (2) The first leg of the bikeway features a smooth asphalt path, newly planted shrubbery, guard rails, lights, emergency call boxes and flashing yellow lights to alert passing equestrians. Bob Halvorsen/Daily News Map: L.A. RIVER BIKEWAY |
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