Dozens of Cyclists Ride 101 Freeway Near Echo Park

Video shows clusters of riders weaving through traffic on the northbound 101 Freeway in Los Angeles.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Drivers on the northbound 101 Freeway in Los Angeles' Echo Park neighborhood were surprised to find themselves sharing the road with dozens of cyclists on Saturday afternoon. Video footage shows the cyclists weaving between cars, with some even popping wheelies as traffic continued to flow around them. The incident quickly gained attention on social media and local news outlets, though the California Highway Patrol reported not receiving any calls about the incident.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between motorists and cyclists in Los Angeles, where the rules governing where bikes are allowed on freeways can be unclear. While some freeway segments are open to cyclists, others prohibit them, leading to confusion and potential safety risks when large groups of riders take over the roadway.

The details

The video footage, which was submitted to the Citizen app and shared with local news outlets, shows clusters of cyclists riding in the northbound lanes of the 101 Freeway between Rampart Boulevard and Alvarado Street. According to ABC7 Los Angeles, the California Highway Patrol said it had not received any calls about the incident and is looking into it further. Caltrans states that while about 1,000 miles of California's roughly 4,000 freeway miles are legally open to bicyclists, local agencies can post signs prohibiting bikes on certain stretches.

  • The video footage was submitted to the Citizen app around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2026.

The players

California Highway Patrol

The state law enforcement agency that oversees California's freeways and highways.

Caltrans

The California Department of Transportation, which is responsible for managing the state's transportation infrastructure, including freeways and signage.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing the needs of motorists and cyclists on Los Angeles' roads and freeways. While some progress has been made in creating safer infrastructure for cyclists, the patchwork of rules and enforcement around bike access to freeways remains a source of confusion and potential conflict.