

World Car Free Day is Monday, Sept. 22. (Image: Christine N. Ziemba)

Monday, Sept. 22 is World Car Free Day—a day that asks people around the globe to ditch their cars for some sort of alternative transportation, from walking to taking public transportation to bike riding. Here are a few fun ways to leave your car at home and explore L.A. just for the occasion.

Sunday, Sept. 21

Bikes & Hikes is leading a 32-mile, 5-hour bike tour of some of the city’s hot spots and hidden treasures beginning at 9 am. Participation is free to the first 25 people who register by emailing info@bikeshikes.com. (The price of this tour is usually $162.) Bikes & Hikes includes a hybrid road bike, safety equipment (helmet & vest). Wear closed-toed shoes and bring cash for lunch.

If you live in the Valley, the LA County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) explores the SFV on Sunday with a 10-mile, family-friendly ride beginning at 10 am, along the Orange Line Bike Path to Balboa Park (starting point is 6060 Van Nuys Blvd.). The ride ends with a brewery tour at Macleod’s, the first microbrewery in the San Fernando Valley. To RSVP, email: carfreesfv@gmail.com.

The LA Explorers Club kicks off a new series of group bike rides on Sunday. The Keep LA Beautiful rides bring attention to the little things that make the city awesome. The Club’s Sunday ride is a moderate/intermediate 11-mile ride with hills and narrow roads and is 21+. (Cruiser or single-speed bikes are not recommended for this one.) Meet between 2:30 and 3 pm at Barbara's at the Brewery (in the Brewery Lofts, follow the posted signs) for registration and pre-ride beer. The ride then travels from Lincoln Park to Elysian Park to Echo Park to MacArthur Park with brief stops to give you the down-low on the history of each place. Riders can either choose to leave from MacArthur park or end at 6:30 pm for the last stop at Beer Belly tavern. Bring IDs, locks, lights and water. Tickets: $10 and help benefit Cicle.

The LACBC also teams up with the Hollywood Bowl for Bike to the Bowl events this Sunday and next. Ride to the Caetano Veloso, Andrew Bird & the Hands of Glory and Devandra Banhart show on Sunday because they’re offering a free bike valet that opens at 5:30 pm. (in the Museum Patio on Peppertree Lane at the Hollywood Bowl). And then show you bike valet ticket or Metro TAP card on the museum patio for a free scoop of ice cream from Peddler's Creamery. The same deal applies to next Sunday’s (Sept. 28) show at the Hollywood Bowl with the Pixies, Gogol Bordello and Cat Power.

The Discover L.A. Sunday Bike Tour celebrates Latino Heritage Month and World Car Free Day, inviting participants to take the The Great Wall of Los Angeles tour beginning at 10 am. The walk begins the Tujunga Green Belt Park and will guide participants along Coldwater Canyon Avenue (between Oxnard Street and Burbank Boulevard).

Monday, Sept. 22

If you’re a runner not a biker, BlacklistLA is holding a World Car Free Day Run on Monday night beginning at 10 pm. The group will meet in front of the Urban Lights installation at LACMA (along Wilshire Boulevard). Participants are encouraged to arrive a little before 10 pm and wear comfortable running shoes. Bring a camera or cell phone to take pics along the route and tagging them with #blacklistla and #CarFreeLA. For more info, email blacklistlosangeles@gmail.com.

And our final suggestion for World Car Free Day? It’s simple: take a bus, Metro, walk, skate or ride to work on Monday. You’ll never know what you’ll see or experience along the route...plus it'll give you a chance to tune up for L.A.'s ultimate car free day: CicLAvia's Heart of Los Angeles route on Oct. 5.