A successful LA car-free Olympics using e-bikes could permanently transform the city’s transportation system.
Los Angeles plans to host a car-free Olympics in 2028, but many doubt the city can pull it off. The main roadblock? Not enough public transit options will be ready in time.
However, a solution that doesn’t require billions in new infrastructure may exist: bikes and electric bikes from private companies.
LA’s current public transit plans face major hurdles. Metro expansion is moving slowly, budgets are tight, and new projects like the monorail and rapid bus lanes remain stuck in planning phases.
The city won’t transform into a public transit paradise within four years, but that doesn’t mean an LA car-free Olympics is impossible.
During the Olympics, most travel happens between nearby locations. Visitors move between hotels and venues, restaurants and fan zones – short trips where bikes work better than cars.
Despite its car-centric reputation, the city’s wide boulevards and open layout actually make it well-suited for bike travel, which could make the LA car-free Olympics a reality
Tech companies, mobility startups, and major brands could lead the way. They have the money, technology, and business reasons to deploy thousands of bikes and e-bikes across Olympic zones.
Several mobility companies are already growing in LA. Upway, which refurbishes and resells e-bikes, recently chose LA as its second US market.
The proposal is straightforward: Let private companies provide bikes and e-bikes in key areas, build temporary storage and charging stations, and give them branding opportunities in return.
This could mean Nike-sponsored bike depots, Uber-backed mobility hubs, or Red Bull-branded e-bike stations throughout the city.
For companies, the marketing value would be enormous. Millions of global spectators would see and use their services, proving their solutions work at a massive scale.
Cities like Paris and Amsterdam have already shown how bikes and e-bikes can transform urban movement. They’ve reduced traffic and pollution while improving mobility.
LA could apply these lessons while adding its own innovative approach through private partnerships.
The US created companies like Uber and Bird. This same spirit of innovation could help LA solve its Olympic transportation challenge.
As home to the entertainment industry and a major advertising market, LA is uniquely positioned to turn this partnership into a model for future global events.
Previous Olympic Games offer valuable lessons for LA’s car-free Olympics vision. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics faced transportation nightmares with gridlocked traffic and overwhelmed public transit.
More recently, London 2012 successfully implemented temporary bike lanes and walking routes. They used existing infrastructure and temporary additions to create a functional system.
Rio 2016 struggled with incomplete transit lines, while Tokyo 2020 showed that even a city with excellent public transportation faces challenges during the Games.
The most recent Olympics, Paris 2024 added 50 kilometres of bicycle lanes, which eliminated 50,000 parking spaces — solutions that LA could study closely before its own car-free Olympics attempt.
See also: Paris 2024 Olympics Sustainability Plan
LA faces a choice: continue struggling with incomplete transit plans or embrace private sector solutions that can be implemented quickly.
The private sector brings funding, technology, and speed that public projects often lack. By combining both approaches, LA might achieve what many consider impossible – a LA car-free Olympics.
A successful bike and e-bike network wouldn’t just help during the LA car-free Olympics. It could permanently change how people move around the city.
Residents might discover that for many trips, especially those under three miles, bikes offer a faster, cheaper, and more pleasant option than sitting in traffic.
The health benefits would extend beyond the Games, too. More active transportation would mean healthier residents and cleaner air for everyone.
If successful, LA’s approach could become a blueprint for other cities hosting major events. It would show how public and private resources can combine to create transportation solutions quickly.
The 2028 Olympics will allow LA to pioneer this model and show the world a different version of the city—one where cars don’t dominate the landscape.
At its core, this is about flexibility. Rather than relying solely on permanent infrastructure, LA can blend long-term public transit projects with nimble private sector solutions to meet the Olympic challenge.
