Pasadena Eases Into Bikeshare, Complete Streets

Visitors to Pasadena will notice a new street feature: bright-green bike lanes along several thoroughfares. Jason Henry and Steve Scauzillo give a local perspective on the city's move to add bike lanes and trim away some road space for vehicles. 

The upcoming arrival (next year) of L.A. Metro bike-share is a big motivator. "Pasadena was chosen as the second Metro bikeshare city — of a possible 20 — because of its large student population. The city is also a destination city for employment, shopping, dining and entertainment with expensive parking [...] Next year, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will move ahead with a plan to bring 34 bike-share stations with 490 bikes to Pasadena."

The plans aren't without their critics. "Some residents were worried the changes will cause safety problems, with hard-to-see bicyclists riding past parking garages as drivers try to exit. Business owners close to Union Street were concerned about losing parking spaces."

Metro's Gold Line light rail serves Pasadena, with a recent expansion extending further into the San Gabriel Valley. But it can be difficult for some residents to reach the train. "'Only one of our Gold Line stations (in Pasadena) is serviced by a bike lane and that is the Sierra Madre Villa (station) and that just happened,' [local bike advocate Wes Reutimann] said. 'Pasadena has even more work to do than Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Long Beach.'"