- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Hundreds of Cyclists Take Over LA Marathon Route for Unofficial Ride
Annual pre-dawn event draws cycling enthusiasts to reclaim city streets before the big race.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Each year, before the Los Angeles Marathon, hundreds of cyclists gather to take over the closed-off marathon route for an unofficial ride known as the L.A. Marathon Crash Ride. This grassroots event, organized by local bike clubs and individual cyclists, has grown in popularity in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic as people seek more community-driven outdoor activities.
Why it matters
The Crash Ride exemplifies a growing trend of repurposing car-centric infrastructure for cyclist-friendly events, demonstrating a desire for more pedestrian and bike-friendly urban spaces. It also highlights the role of cycling advocacy groups in promoting these types of community-driven activities and pushing for improved cycling infrastructure year-round.
The details
Participants typically begin the ride around 4 a.m. on the Sunday of the LA Marathon at the former site of Tang's Donuts in Silver Lake, then pedal towards Century City, with some riders continuing all the way to Santa Monica. The event is not organized by a single entity, but rather organically coalesces from numerous local bike clubs and individual cyclists. Raff Hernandez, who runs the LA Cycling Community and Calendar, describes the Crash Ride as a vital opportunity to 'reclaim the public space' and a chance for cyclists of all levels to freely navigate the city streets without the usual constraints of traffic and red lights.
- The L.A. Marathon Crash Ride typically takes place in the pre-dawn hours on the Sunday of the LA Marathon.
- The 2023 edition of the ride is scheduled for Sunday, March 8.
The players
Raff Hernandez
Runs the LA Cycling Community and Calendar, which helps promote the L.A. Marathon Crash Ride and other cycling events in the area.
LA Cycling Community and Calendar
A local organization that advocates for cycling and promotes community-driven cycling events in Los Angeles.
What they’re saying
“It helps us not feel so alone. Especially in this ever-growing hostility… I think that having these groups is really vital.”
— Raff Hernandez, Organizer, LA Cycling Community and Calendar (Instagram)
What’s next
The 2023 edition of the L.A. Marathon Crash Ride is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, with cyclists expected to gather around 4 a.m. at the former site of Tang's Donuts in Silver Lake.
The takeaway
The L.A. Marathon Crash Ride demonstrates the growing demand for more cyclist-friendly events and infrastructure in Los Angeles, as the city's cycling community continues to find creative ways to reclaim public spaces and build a sense of community around shared outdoor activities.
