For most riders, navigating the streets of Los Angeles would be akin to riding in the seventh circle of hell. However, it's no secret that Los Angeles is surrounded by nature. Most of us are too busy sitting in traffic to notice. There are pockets of wilderness in every direction, from the Pacific Coast and the Santa Monica Mountains to the Hollywood Hills and the snowcapped peaks in the distant San Gabriel Range. The team at Fix Manufacturing stumbled upon some information that made an LA ride not just possible but appealing. LA's various greenbelts were initially intended to be connected by a now long abandoned subway system. The 1925 Pacific Railway was conceptualized to relieve LA traffic and connect the city with a massive network of subways and railways. Ultimately, the plan was squashed by opposition from auto industry heavies, but much of the infrastructure for the rail system had already been built and still exists today. While the rail system is long forgotten, the various staircases, alleyways, and bridges built to support it remain today and bisect LA's busiest neighborhoods, linking LA's various parks in navigable urban trails.
So, the inaugural Slay LA ride was born. In the spirit of the 1925 Pacific Railway, the ride began with a train ride from Laguna Beach to Union Station in Los Angeles. The team set off with over a dozen riders, including Fix Manufacturing founder Tony Zentil, Hans Rey, Brian Lopes, Troy Lee, and the Laguna RADS. The ride had its fair share of difficulties, but sticking to the strict Union Station train schedule was perhaps the most challenging aspect of the day.
Stay tuned for Part 2.
Learn more about the fate of LA's first railways -
laist.com/news/laistory-the-19
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23 мар 2024
