Pasadena's First 'Bicycle Boulevard' Opens Jan. 31

The public is invited to join Mayor Bill Bogaard, Councilmember Victor Gordo and bicycle enthusiasts for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, to open Pasadena’s first dedicated “Bicycle Boulevard.”

The bicycle friendly event hosted by the City’s Department of Transportation will be held at the corner of Marengo Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard.

Pasadena’s Bicycle Boulevard stretches about three-quarters of a mile along Marengo Avenue, and is anchored at the intersections with Orange Grove Boulevard and Washington Boulevard.  Special bicycle signals at these intersections alert bicyclists when it is their turn to enter “Bicycle Boulevard” while posted signs divert motorists from entering.

Although this stretch of Marengo is not open to through vehicular traffic, Marengo Avenue’s residents with cars can still enter the new bicycle zone by using side streets.  Local drivers will be able to exit their cars at the Orange Grove and Washington intersections as “Bicycle Boulevard” is still considered a regular residential street with on-street parking for cars and vehicular use.

Creating Pasadena’s Bicycle Boulevard, however, was the latest step in a neighborhood traffic management plan for Marengo Avenue established several years ago.  The goal was to create a low-traffic area that offers a pleasant cycling area.

This is only the second such “Bicycle Boulevard” in Los Angeles County.  The project was funded through a $500,000 grant from the California Department of Transportation’s “Bicycle Transportation Grant” program to cover the cost of signals, signs and road lane painting.

For more information, call (626) 744-7664 or email Jenny Cristales, Associate Transportation Planner at jcristales@cityofpasadena.net.

For more information about the City of Pasadena, go online to www.cityofpasadena.net.
*reprinted from the City of Pasadena website