The best LA neighborhoods for cyclists

If your favorite method of transportation has two wheels, rather than four, then you are one of the brave cyclists who take to the roads of Los Angeles, and we commend you. Taking to the streets of LA on just two wheels can be dangerous, especially if you are commuting with traffic on the busy city streets.

If you’re looking for an apartment in a Los Angeles neighborhood from which you can go for more relaxing or recreational bike rides for fitness, there are many excellent options around greater LA. Here are a few.

If you live in one of the Hollywoods or in another neighborhood convenient to Griffith Park, you can join many other cyclists in riding the park roads. This is a great workout because there are some good hills that will really get your legs working.  One of the popular rides is to start from the Zoo (parking is available there) and head up Trash Truck Hill into Mt. Hollywood Canyon. Another option is to take on Mt. Hollywood itself (the road is closed to cars, which makes for a very pleasant riding experience). I recommend both!

If you find a place to live in Santa Monica, Brentwood, or on the westernmost section of Wilshire Boulevard, you can easily make your way to the Pacific Coast Highway, another very popular cycling destination. PCH has a lot of traffic, but if you ride it early in the morning you will probably have a pleasant experience. Just be mindful of the cars and wary of road debris on the shoulder. If you are a long distance rider you could ride all the way to Oxnard before turning back.

What’s the best neighborhood for a commuting cyclist? I would argue that it all depends on where you work. One of the reasons that downtown has become more popular as a residential destination is that it offers a convenient lifestyle for those wanting to live carless, and depend on bikes and public transportation to get around. Those working at offices along Sunset Boulevard might have a convenient bike commute from Echo Park or Silverlake.

What’s the most bike-friendly neighborhood you’ve  encountered in Los Angeles?