Colorado Boulevard will go car-free for six hours on Sunday, Nov. 15, when Pasadena hosts its first CicLAvia Open Streets event in more than a decade.
The city and the nonprofit CicLAvia are closing a 2.7-mile stretch of Colorado Boulevard and Raymond Avenue to motor vehicles from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Pasadena Star-News. The free event, partially funded by Los Angeles Metro, will turn the corridor into open space for walking, biking, skating and rolling.
Residents who want details before the event can join a virtual community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, via Zoom at bit.ly/ciclavia_pasadena_CM. Spanish translation will be available. The meeting will cover route details, street closures, business opportunities and volunteer roles.
The route
The car-free corridor runs along Colorado Boulevard from Pasadena Avenue to Allen Avenue and Raymond Avenue from Pacific Alley to Dayton Street. It passes through Old Pasadena, Playhouse Village and the South Lake Avenue area, connecting Metro's Memorial Park and Del Mar stations. Cars will still be able to cross at six intersections along the route.
Two activity hubs will anchor the event. One is at Memorial Park, 145 N. Raymond Ave. The other is at Colorado Boulevard and Allen Avenue, 1778 E. Colorado Blvd. Both will offer free family activities, restrooms, water refill stations, basic bike repair, bike parking and first aid. Free pedicab rides will be available at each hub's information booth on a first-come, first-served basis, according to CicLAvia's event page.
The city is also setting up two one-mile "Slow Streets" pop-up bike lanes. A western segment will run along Walnut Avenue between Raymond Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard, continuing to Rosemont Avenue near the Rose Bowl. An eastern segment will extend Colorado Boulevard from Allen Avenue to San Gabriel Boulevard, connecting to the Lamanda Park neighborhood.
What drivers need to know
Streets along the route close to cars from 7 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. Streets near activity hubs may close as early as 6 a.m. No parking is allowed on the route from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. Signs will be posted in advance, and towing starts at 4 a.m. No freeways will be closed.
CicLAvia may reimburse people who live or work on the route up to $20 per vehicle for parking costs, Pasadena Now reported.
Driveways on the route will be blocked from roughly 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Delivery drivers will not be able to drive or park on the route during closure hours.
E-bikes, scooters and wheels
Electric scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards, electric unicycles and motorcycles are banned from the route. Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are allowed. Class 2 e-bikes are permitted only with the throttle off. Class 3 e-bikes are permitted only with pedal-assist off. Manual and motorized wheelchairs are welcome.
Business and community support
Mayor Victor Gordo said in a city press release that the event will give residents more chances to connect, support local businesses and experience Pasadena's neighborhoods.
The Old Pasadena Management District and the Playhouse Village Association have expressed support, according to the Pasadena Weekly. District 3 Councilmember Justin L. Jones encouraged local businesses to sign up in his Sept. 25 newsletter.
Businesses on the route can be listed on CicLAvia's interactive map by submitting a participation form by Thursday, Nov. 12. A 2013 UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs study of a CicLAvia event on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles found businesses along that route saw a 10 percent sales increase on event day, Pasadena Now reported. The study examined a different city, not Pasadena.
Pasadena last hosted a CicLAvia in May 2015. The nonprofit has produced more than 65 Open Streets events across Southern California.
