Car-Free Events Improve Cash Flow for L.A. Businesses

"Approximately 150,000 people on foot, bikes and skates experienced iconic Wilshire Boulevard as part of the CicLAvia event on June 23, 2013. Researchers at UCLA Luskin’s Complete Streets Initiative and the Luskin Center for Innovation surveyed a representative sample of brick-and-mortar businesses along the route, comparing sales revenue and foot traffic on CicLAvia Sunday and a Sunday earlier that month."

What they found was that businesses located along the route experienced a 10 percent increase in sales on the day of the event. And for businesses that "engaged with CicLAvia participants such as with a vending table or music," sales increased an average of 57 percent. 

“CicLAvia has always been about connecting people to the community in a way that isn’t possible by car. Among the most important connections we can foster is the one between participants and the businesses along the route.,” said CicLAvia Executive Director Aaron Paley. “We are pleased to see the Luskin Center study indicates that these businesses receive a notable increase in revenue on CicLAvia day.”

Based on these findings, local businesses may be happy to learn that CicLAvia recently received a $500,000 grant from the Wasserman Foundation to hold more events over the next two years.

"The next CicLAvia, 'Heart of LA,' will take place Oct. 6."