We remember the time when guys thought they were popular because they laid down with lots of different people. But no longer. Witness planking man:

He is cool because lays down alone … at lots of different places.

Stephen Estes sent us that shot of him planking — laying down face first, arms at his side (yeah, it's the “sport” that makes Parkour look like big wave surfing) — on the empty 405 near Wilshire Boulevard Saturday during the 405 freeway shutdown known as Carmageddon.

And forget the bicyclists who threatened to take over the 405 or the race between a JetBlue plane and the Wolfpack Hustle crew of cyclists: This guy is the real environmental statement-maker. (And, of course, he's pimping something: His Vitagasm vitamin patch).

He says the image “captures the essence of Carmageddon” and is ” … part of a global Planking subculture that has spread to every continent.”

Awesome, Stephen. You killed it with your face-to-the-pavement style. (Apparently he didn't get arrested, which would have also ended up with him planking with his hands behind his back).

So look out wankers. Make way for plankers.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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