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The folks at CicLAvia are planning ahead to resume the immensely popular free and recurring events which allow for the temporary closing of major streets, normally open to cars, within various regions around Los Angeles, California. As many Angelenos know, CicLAvia catalyzes vibrant public spaces, promotes active transportation and good health through car-free street events. CicLAvia engages with people to transform the relationship within communities and with each other, creating a web of public space in which Angelenos can walk, bike, exercise, socialize, celebrate, and explore new cultures and neighborhoods.
CicLAvia has partnered with AARP, the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age.
“As an organization that represents people aged 50+ and their families, AARP’s goals are to disrupt the notion of aging; create awareness and advocate for different ways that people can safely travel, and strive to build age-friendly communities across the region,” exclaims Stephanie Ramirez, AARP Los Angeles’ associate state director of advocacy. “It makes perfect sense for AARP to partner with CicLAvia, an organization that sheds light on different people-powered transportation options for Angelenos whether it’s walking, biking or rolling. CicLAvia also offers people the chance to connect with family, friends and their community in a completely different way than our car-centric culture allows.”
Ciclavia has always been concerned about ensuring it was accessible to everyone, regardless of age, physical abilities or location,” said Tafarai Bayne, CicLAvia’s chief strategist. “When CicLAvia was conducting its community outreach for a new Southeast LA route in 2016, the outreach team noticed a higher-than-average number of senior citizens walking around the community and at the many Churches along the route. We realized that some of these residents would have trouble accessing the event, particularly those with mobility challenges.”
This realization coincided with a fortuitous encounter between Bayne and Ramirez. After some initial brainstorming, the two nonprofits formed a partnership. “CicLAvia promotes the type of lifestyle that AARP aspires to for all its members,” added Ramirez. “The synergy between AARP’s ‘Disrupt Aging’ message and how just being at CicLAvia, riding bikes, walking, and other people-powered alternatives, allows participants to bring out the kid in them, highlights that age isn't a limit on having fun, being out in your community and engaging in exploration and life.”
To start, AARP sponsored a handful of pedicabs offering free rides so seniors and anyone with mobility challenges could access the Southeast event. They’ve provided pedicabs for anyone who needs a helping hand - at every CicLAvia since, plus a few more perks. These include free TAP cards loaded with one round-trip day fare for anyone who signs up for AARP information. AARP also provides a corps of volunteers to each event who assist with everything from outreach to manning some of the hubs along each route.
Anyone who wants or needs one can take a pedicab - people who have injuries that prevent them from riding but who still want to participate; or a mom with a child with special needs, or someone who gets a flat tire and hails a ride to the next hub to get it repaired - no one is excluded from taking a pedicab.
All of these freebies are extra grease on the wheels of AARP’s generous annual financial sponsorship. “Our ongoing partnership with CicLAvia has helped us educate and promote safe, alternative methods of transportation for seniors and their families, even on days when a CicLAvia isn’t in their neighborhood,” adds Ramirez. “Because people of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and socio-economic status participate in CicLAvia from all over Southern California, we are able to connect with a large cross-section of Angelenos, whether they’re 5, 55 or 95.”
AARP also cites social activity, combating loneliness and isolation, and something to look forward to - either through active participation on the route or via volunteering - as major benefits that CicLAvia has for seniors.
As CicLAvia celebrates its 10th anniversary (5th with AARP), how is the partnership faring during the pandemic? “This partnership has been amazing for both of us, as we work to make more livable cities for people of all ages,” says Ramirez. “We want CicLAvia to continue as much as the rest of Los Angeles does. The institution that CicLAvia represents – the opportunity for Angelenos to come together - it’s unparalleled and will endure through this crisis. We will be right there with them when CicLAvia can resume bringing our communities together in person.”
Everywhere, people are reinventing what it means to age.
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