Cyclists in front of Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Michael Siegel)
South Pas Active Streets led over 40 children and adults in a bike ride up Grand Avenue into Pasadena for the unveiling of a new protected bikeway on Union Street.
By Michael Siegel
The Save our Slow Streets family ride had children participating from all three South Pasadena elementary schools, the middle school and high school. After a leisurely ride through tree-lined Grand Avenue, the ride made its way through Old Pasadena to Pasadena City Hall, where the South Pasadena crew joined nearly a thousand other bike riders celebrating the opening of the area’s first two-way protected bike lane.
Presiding over the bikeway grand opening were Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, State Senator Anthony Portantino and Congresswoman Judy Chu, all of whom jumped on their bicycles to ride the path connecting City Hall, the Central District, Playhouse District and Old Town.
The 1.5 mile ride kicked off the Save Our Slow Streets petition drive in South Pasadena, which installed a painted bike lane and flex-posts at conflict intersections. The temporary Slow Street installation, if successful, would be the first step in bringing permanent, traffic-calming safety elements that, once built, would better align with the aesthetic-character of South Pasadena
“Today’s ride shows that our community wants safe opportunities to get around without a car,” said Kris Miller, one of the ride’s organizers. “These lanes are a great fit for Grand Ave. Imagine if all our city was accessible by bike, whether by slowing car traffic or through protected bike lanes like we saw in Pasadena.”
South Pas Active Streets works to improve active transportation in and around the city through events and advocacy, most notably their weekly Bike Bus to Marengo and Arroyo Vista elementary schools. For more information on South Pas Active or the Slow Street program, visit SouthPasActive.org.
Riding from South Pasadena to Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Michael Siegel)
Ribbon cutting ceremony (Photo- Brian Biery)
In front of Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Brian BIery)
How do you get safely to pasadena from the bike lane on grand ?
Hi Eugenie, the route this ride took was up Grand, which briefly connects with Arroyo Dr before becoming its own (quieter) street. At Green, the ride took a left into Pasadena Old Town. Unfortunately, there isn’t an ideal route for riders to go from South Pas to Pasadena, however, the City of Pasadena is doing a great job adding options and have a few more projects slated over the next few years for North-South travel.