Sometimes wishes do come true.
Photographing the Chinatown Hub on Broadway had been my plan for the CicLAvia Heart of L.A. event on Sunday, but before I could take more than a couple of not-very-interesting photos I felt a tap on my shoulder and a pedicab driver asked if I wanted a ride. I had seen the pedicabs at the last CicLAvia in August and noticed they were sponsored by AARP and thought that it would be fun to ride in one. “Sure,” I replied to the pedicabbist, who I soon learned was named John Berry.
I hopped into his human-powered vehicle and off we went along Broadway toward the Downtown CicLAvia Hub. Along the way the thought skittered through my mind that it was as if I was in some steamy, hot Asian country a century ago, wearing a long pastel dress and holding an umbrella to protect me from the sun. I pushed that fantasy aside and began taking some photographs of this latest CicLAvia. (I will post more photos from downtown–including demonstrations, a Unicyclist, and a very bizarre hairy creature tomorrow.)
John’s business is named Awesome Pedicab and he usually takes people on tours in the Santa Monica area. While the fares listed on the pedicab were identified as being for Venice, I learned later from his website that he also does a taco tour of the Westside and will take you to the Rams game from wherever you have been forced to park.
Here is what I saw on our way to downtown…well, except the first photo which was taken in the Chinatown Gold Line Metro Station.
