Photos: CicLAvia in Culver City and Venice

A man balances a couple sticks while riding in the CicLAvia bike festival on Sunday.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of bicyclists (and some unicycles), skaters and pedestrians are expected to take over the six-mile route that will run along Washington and Venice boulevards beginning at 9 a.m. and running through 4 p.m.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A blur of wheels in the CicLAvia bike festival on Sunday.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The popular festival, which is held in different locations throughout the year, is intended to encourage people to abandon their cars for the day to explore their environment in other ways. The idea is to promote a clean environment and good health.

The free event will close about a dozen streets to motorized vehicles. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to high 70s.