Pasadena Pedaling Towards Bicycle Unfriendly Status

For the third week in a row, the Cycling Community will be massing at the Pasadena City Council speaker’s podium, protesting the City’s efforts to pass an ordinance (.pdf) that will prohibit bicyclists from riding more than two abreast in any public street.

The City of Pasadena, who earned the title of "most bike-friendly city in Los Angeles County" in 2004, claims that the ordinance is a simple attempt to manage the user group conflict at the Rose Bowl recreation area caused by the Peloton cyclists who ride on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a training ride that averages 30 mph and consists of 75-100 cyclists traveling clockwise around the Rose Bowl in tight formation.

The Cycling Community claims that current municipal code already addresses any of the charges that have been directed at the Peloton such as impeding traffic, traveling too fast (hard to imagine those two charges being leveled at the same time with a straight face!), riding against traffic and running reds.

Last week cyclists representing the Peloton were joined by bike commuters, social riders, alternative transportation advocates and people who just like to ride their bikes, all united in their commitment to keep the streets of Pasadena open to all modes of transportation. At midnight, Mayor Bogaard sat with more than 40 speaker cards in his hand and a SRO room full cyclists, all waiting for the 1st Reading of the Ordinance. The Mayor paused and contemplated postponing the remaining of the agenda because of the late hour but the City Attorney advised the Mayor to let the public speak. The meeting continued.

Tonight the City Council will conduct the 2nd public reading of the ordinance (three readings are needed) and the cycling community will ride in from all over LA County to fight for their right to ride the streets of Pasadena.

Top photo by Thespis of the Bay via Flickr
Bicycle Sticker from City of Pasadena