Rose Bowl loop (Photo – Scott Phelps)
In late December 2021, after City staff indicated there was no plan to re-pave the Rose Bowl loop road, I wrote an appeal to the public in a local digital newspaper, hoping they would lobby the City to prioritize the re-paving of the Rose Bowl loop roadway in 2022 because its poor condition negatively affects the hundreds of folks using the loop roadway daily for exercise. In February 2022, curiously, only the west (Linda Vista) side of the loop was re-paved.
By Scott Phelps
Pasadena City staff recently presented updates on the ten pedestrian corridors and crossing locations and the nine Bike Lanes, Greenways and Roseways previously prioritized at the Council’s October 2022 Municipal Services Committee meeting during updates on the Pedestrian Action Plan and the Bicycle Transportation Action Plan. The Rose Bowl loop road is not on either of those lists even though it has probably the greatest usage of any of those listed.
After that meeting, staff said that the loop has been added to a 5-year paving plan as one of many competing priorities.
I spoke to some local cyclists about the need for such improvements. Mike Hendricks:
“As an avid bike rider, I find it odd that the City of Pasadena would pave the west side of the Rose Bowl. The rest of the loop is almost not rideable with all the cracks and potholes in the road. The Rose Bowl loop should be an inviting place for walkers, runners and bikers.”
Warren Skidmore, who frequently rides at the Rose Bowl: “I was very excited when the west side of the Rose Bowl loop was resurfaced but disappointed that it didn’t proceed around more of the loop. The direction that I feel is safest and the most common direction that cyclists ride is clockwise, which makes the slightly downhill east side much faster than the slightly uphill west side. I find that I’m always seeking out the least bumpy paths along the east side, sometimes riding out near the middle of the road, distracted from the traffic because I’m looking for the smoothest surface.”
As Warren indicates, cyclists may be endangering themselves by avoiding these cracks and potholes (see photos accompanying this article) by riding close to the centerline of the roadway.
Let’s hope this need gets some more priority for re-paving in 2023!
Rose Bowl loop (Photos – Scott Phelps)
This has been a problem with the streets in Upper Hastings Ranch area. We get hundreds of vehicles each year through our neighborhood and not only streets but sidewalks are taking a beating. I seen they paved one street which honestly seemed to be in the best shape but left the others alone.
Who makes these decisions?!