Pasadena to Host Its First Car-Free, Open-Streets CicLAvia on Sunday

Pasadena has played host to parades, bike races and music festivals, and for the first time is opening its streets to the largest car-free open streets event in America. CicLAvia – Pasadena takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 31.

The city will lend its own charm and flair to CicLAvia as participants travel along Colorado Boulevard and down side streets, to parks and historic architecture, using foot, pedal and non-motorized wheel power. The event route will connect to the Memorial and Del Mar Metro Gold Line Stations enabling participants to have a car-free or car-lite day.

CicLAvia – Pasadena is the most walkable CicLAvia to date at 3.5 miles. The cozy distance will offer participants the opportunity to peruse and explore Pasadena’s business gems and cultural treasures. Spurs off the main route on Raymond Avenue and Lake Street will take participants to local parks. And CicLAvia’s new partnership with Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities, Cirque du Soleil’s newest touring Big Top show, coming to Southern California this fall, will give participants young and old a smile-inducing and awe-inspiring entertainment adventure.

“Pasadena has been home to some of the most beloved events in America for more than 100 years. CicLAvia is proud to be the newest addition to this rich history,” said CicLAvia co-founder and Executive Director Aaron Paley. “The city has embraced the CicLAvia concept and is adding their own flavor. We’re looking forward to exploring what CicLAvia means outside of LA!”

“Pasadena is excited to host CicLAvia to showcase the historic streets, vibrant shops and local businesses of our beautiful city,” Mayor Bill Bogaard said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring out the entire family and your canine companions to experience the best of Pasadena in a fun and healthy way on car-free streets by walking, biking, roller skating or jogging.”

“Angelenos transcend city boundaries and CicLAvia follows suit for the first time by coming to LA’s neighboring city of Pasadena — the car-free event catalyzes open spaces, healthier lifestyles and helps wheel in a vibrant regional economy that’s good for us and the environment,” said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti.

Pasadena residents and businesses will have the opportunity to learn more about the route at a community meeting on April 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pasadena Central Library. A second meeting will be held on April 29 at 7:00 p.m. at Pasadena City College. CicLAvia staff and volunteers will begin door to door outreach to residents and businesses along the route next week. It will be one of several direct outreach efforts CicLAvia makes to inform Pasadena residents and businesses about the logistics of the event and the opportunities that exist.

CicLAvia – Pasadena Presented by Metro is the second CicLAvia event in 2015. The remaining two events are CicLAvia – Culver City Meets Venice Presented by Metro (August 9) and CicLAvia – Heart of LA (October 18). The funding for the Pasadena and Culver City is provided primarily by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) as part of a $4 million Open Streets grant that was awarded to municipalities throughout Southern California to sponsor car-free events in 2014-2016.

The program allocates $2 million annually for these types of events within L.A. County. The program seeks to increase sustainable transportation mode share, including transit, bicycle and pedestrian trips, create opportunities for first time transit usage and encourage cities to develop multi-modal polices. Other benefits include economic, public health benefits and opportunities to highlight and promote cultural resources.

CicLAvia has held 12 open streets events since 2010 and is recognized as being a world leader in transforming streets into temporary urban parks. Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in CicLAvia as they connect with their communities, businesses, healthy activity and each other in a way that isn’t possible by car.

About CicLAvia

CicLAvia is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. CicLAvia catalyzes vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia engages with people to transform our relationship with our communities and with each other. With the full support of Metro, local governments, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles City Council, Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Transportation, the Department of Water and Power, and the Department of Parks and Recreation, CicLAvia is an innovative model for creating new public space and enriching civic life.

Partners include Metro, the City of Los Angeles, City of Pasadena, the Wasserman Foundation and an Anonymous benefactor. Supporters include the Annenberg Foundation, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Rosenthal Family Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Durfee Foundation and LA 2050. Sponsors include Los Angeles County Department of Water and Power, David Bohnett Foundation, Roth Family Foundation, Southern California Gas Company, Tern Bicycles, Indie Printing and Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. Media Sponsors include LA Times, KPCC and Laemmle Theatres.

About Metro

Metro is a multimodal transportation agency that is actually three companies in one: a major operator that transports about 1.5 million boarding passengers on an average weekday on a fleet of 2,000 clean air buses and six rail lines; a major construction agency that oversees many bus, rail, highway and other mobility related building projects, and Metro is the lead transportation planning and programming agency for Los Angeles County. Overseeing one of the largest works programs in America, Metro is, literally, changing the urban landscape of the Los Angeles region. Dozens of transit, highway and other mobility projects, largely funded by Measure R, are under construction or in the planning stages. These include five new rail lines, the I-5 widening and other major projects.

Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter:metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.