[5] The path "leads cyclists past colorful piers, lively crowds, and beach vistas unseen by automobile travelers.

Riders see exhilarating views of the Pacific Ocean, fleets of weekend sailors, and, on a clear day, Catalina Island riding on the horizon.

"[5] According to one guide to recreational biking in Los Angeles, "If you make the path a part of your morning workout routine, you'll see sunbeams lighting up the white crests of waves as they break, surfers getting the first rides of the day, and assorted marine life bobbing in and around the shoreline.

[8] For most of the trail, the bicycle path is Class I (no automobile contact) but for a few miles in Marina del Rey, the route is Class II where the bicycle route crosses six streets with automobiles and nearby traffic lights, adding moderate danger for bicyclists, pedestrians, roller skaters, and skateboarders.

Almost every facet of zany California beach culture can be found on the boardwalk-jugglers, mimes, skaters and more sidewalk cafes, junk- and health-food eateries than one could sample in a year of Sundays.

[9] The Class II path eventually veers off of Washington Boulevard and takes riders around Marina Del Rey following a bike route and walkway crossing Admiralty Way.

[11] Below Marina Del Rey and Ballona Creek the path is called the South Bay Bike Trail, "The route follows a flat, curving path that snakes among the dunes of Dockweiler Beach State Park; in Manhattan Beach it's more like a broad boardwalk, and near King Harbor it's commercial—you'll have to dismount for part of the way through this busy shopping area.

"[12] The path continues south through Playa Del Rey to Dockweiler State Beach (which abuts Los Angeles International Airport and the city of El Segundo), "which is wide, clean, sandy and mostly pleasant.

[14][15][16][17] The current path was proposed in the late 1960s—the Los Angeles Times reported "Chamber Studies Plan for Bikeway in Venice" in 1967–and was approved by L.A. County Supervisors in 1971.

[7] Initial gaps in the route, which was otherwise largely complete by 1974, were in Marina Del Rey and Santa Monica, Hermosa and Redondo Beach.