Culver City : Council OKs New Bike Route

The City Council on Monday unanimously approved a revised route for a 27-mile bike ride that will travel through one of Culver City’s busiest intersections.

The council, however, voted to require sponsors of the second Grape Nuts Festival to pay for a police officer to patrol the intersection of Centinela Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard.

Mayor Paul A. Netzel said police protection will be needed for the estimated 6,000 cyclists expected to cross the busy corner.

Sponsors General Foods and Bicycling Magazine were also required to provide $20 million in liability insurance. Councilman Richard Brundo, who earlier opposed the event, asked that approval of the route be contingent on the sponsors providing the insurance.

The sponsors expect the non-competitive event, scheduled for Sept. 28, to raise about $40,000 for the United Way and American Youth Hostels. It will start in the Hollywood Park section of Los Angeles at 8 a.m. Riders are expected to cross the Centinela/Sepulveda intersection from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Parking for participants will be provided in Hollywood Park and Inglewood, not at West Los Angeles College, Pacific Studio Drive-In or the Pacific Centinela Drive-In as had been proposed, sponsors said.