Southern California - Pasadena is Going After the "Pelaton"

Hey so cool they decided to drop it...

Exactly....why let it go on for 40 or however long years it's been going on. They should have immediately banned this type of riding back when it originally began if they thought it was dangerous.

It's wise...now they can continue a tradition that's very unique to Pasadena.

I believe that there will still be ongoing "negotiation" with the Rose Bowl so It's probably not over yet, but this is a step in the right direction for sure.

So, what happened exactly?

I found this story while searching google:

http://laist.com/2007/08/14/pasadena_abando.php

Love that quote!

I found this story while searching google:

http://laist.com/2007/08/14/pasadena_abando.php

That is certainly good news for the peloton. I would be careful about a police force driven by their chief that may be over zealous in their bicycle ticketing.

. . . . I would be careful about a police force driven by their chief that may be over zealous in their bicycle ticketing.
Probably a golfer/politician that meets with his cronys at Brookside Golf Course.:rolleyes:

I'm glad the thing was dropped. I don't really buy the civil rights argument though. It's not like they were saying cyclists won't be allowed to ride out there.

I hope they continue the conversations. As it stands, the city could get really persnickety about the rules of the road and harass the ride out of existence by issuing speeding tickets, reckless driving citations etc. Heck, they could even put in a stop sign on one of those corners. I doubt any of that will happen, but the possibility exists.

It actually wasn't "dropped" completely. The council agreed to table it until next March, at which point they hope the police, RBOC, and the cyclists can come to an agreement/amendment to the current ordinance.

Just rode around the bowl today and I see why the cyclists are constantly getting in the vehicle's way. There's a 3-4' "no man's land" lane between the ped and the traffic, and they not only walk on that, but they walk in the traffic lane too! I constantly had to check over my shoulder to ride out into the middle of the lane just to avoid hitting dogs, walkers, and strollers (anyone who walks a stroller in a traffic lane should be slapped). I imagine it wasn't the busiest time of day, either, being 9am on a work day.

Without getting hissed at...I'm just curious why any of us even want to ride over there? It's really NOT safer with what you describe going on all the time, Brian. I wish they'd outlaw the pedestrians personally (and the golfers, but I've already stated that). Only then would it be a safe place to ride.

I actually plan on trying some routes east of my new place tomorrow (if you have any suggestions, my ITB seems to want a gentle startup again after 3 weeks off for vacation/moving). Not as pretty, but nice wide streets with bike lanes look nice. The Rose Bowl does look like a nice loop to get some flat riding in, though, but you have to be aware of your surroundings as if you were on an MUP... but with cars driving on it!

I actually find riding at the Rose Bowl safer than on the bike trails, like SGRT or SART (I've always wanted to use those acronyms in a thread ... :D ). I don't find it unsafe at all. There is plenty of room to maneuver to avoid roller bladers, walkers, or joggers. I enjoy riding the RB.

I always found the RB a great place to do Interval training.. Like said above, the walkers and bladers are not really a big issue..

The last time I rode the SART, I had to avoid 2 dogs that people were not tending too, while walking along the trail near the beach..

BUMP...

I'm shocked this is on as a main newsflash on KNBC 4's website.

http://www.knbc.com/news/14173042/detail.html?dl=mainclick

must have been a slow news day...

I think I'm going to take a video camera down there some time and show how the pedestrians cause just as much of a hazard by walking in the buffer zone and even in the vehicle lanes!

I have ridden with or at the same time as the peleton a few times now and I agree that some of them do things they shouldn't be doing (the first lap is neutral at about 10 mph and they laugh at cars that try to pass on the wrong side of the road, and they frequently go over the yellow line themselves), but I never saw any of them riding in the buffer or pedestrian lane. They even call out if there is a lone bike or ped so the pack knows to shift to the left.

Yeah I think it was a bit biased...I sent them some comments...

Now that I'm home and got to watch the video, they even have a shot that shows the pedestrians walking in the buffer zone. It's biased for sure.

That's me. Good thing I had my pink (or light red) jersey on... much easier to see

http://www.minkim.com/temp/rosebowl.jpg

That's me. Good thing I had my pink (or light red) jersey on... much easier to see

http://www.minkim.com/temp/rosebowl.jpg

Awesome!

There was also an article in Tuesday's LA Times. It was actually pretty neutral and even sided with the cyclists a little. Bigdraft was quoted as well.

woohoo redal, I gots me my one paragraph of fame:) What was messed up about the LA Times article was that the interviews and information it contained were done two months ago so it was a bit out of date, though the issue remains the same. A bit has changed since then and we are currently working closely with the city council, Rose Bowl Operating Company and all other vested parties to find a workable arrangement.

See you on the Montrose race tomorrow?

woohoo redal, I gots me my one paragraph of fame:) What was messed up about the LA Times article was that the interviews and information it contained were done two months ago so it was a bit out of date, though the issue remains the same. A bit has changed since then and we are currently working closely with the city council, Rose Bowl Operating Company and all other vested parties to find a workable arrangement.

See you on the Montrose race tomorrow?

Yeah I figured it was a couple of months old. I'll be out there tomorrow. I get to test out a SuperSix for a week so I want to do some good rides on it and see how it compares to my SystemSix. I'm supposed to leave San Dimas at 7:30 so we should make it out to San Marino.

What is the recommendation to cyclists who aren't participating in the pelaton?

If they move into into the buffer zone or across the double yellow they are in violation and this looks bad for the pelaton. Having to pull off road every time the pelaton comes by seems a little unreasonable.

Any thoughts?

What is the recommendation to cyclists who aren't participating in the pelaton?

If they move into into the buffer zone or across the double yellow they are in violation and this looks bad for the pelaton. Having to pull off road every time the pelaton comes by seems a little unreasonable.

Any thoughts?
Cyclists not in the peloton don't need to do anything except hold their line. It's the pack's job to go around them, and they do so quite effeciently by calling out "RIGHT SIDE!" to the rest of the pack behind them. It's quite safe as long as the rider being passed is going straight and not making any erratic moves.

Cyclists not in the peloton don't need to do anything except hold their line. It's the pack's job to go around them, and they do so quite effeciently by calling out "RIGHT SIDE!" to the rest of the pack behind them. It's quite safe as long as the rider being passed is going straight and not making any erratic moves.Yes. This is perfectly acceptable. One addition to this would be to ride as far to the right as practicable, as the law requires. This means, yes stay out of the buffer zone, go around pedestrians who don't offer the same courtesy, but try to stay as far to the right as is safe.

An alternative to avoid this altogether, is to ride in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. This would pretty much alleviate any problems, I think, except for passing motorists or--again--pedestrians.

Yes. This is perfectly acceptable. One addition to this would be to ride as far to the right as practicable, as the law requires. This means, yes stay out of the buffer zone, go around pedestrians who don't offer the same courtesy, but try to stay as far to the right as is safe.

Just to add what I think should be obvious, check over your shoulder before pulling out into traffic to go around a pedestrian.

just to add what i think should be obvious, check over your shoulder before pulling out into traffic to go around a pedestrian.
+1

Just to add what I think should be obvious, check over your shoulder before pulling out into traffic to go around a pedestrian.

Riders should get in the habit of *always* turning their head for a quick look before a lateral movement, just like checking mirrors when driving. It lets you see if anyone is there who you might not have noticed (they might be overtaking from far back) and indicates that you might be moving in that direction.

Riders should get in the habit of *always* turning their head for a quick look before a lateral movement, just like checking mirrors when driving. It lets you see if anyone is there who you might not have noticed (they might be overtaking from far back) and indicates that you might be moving in that direction.
Exactly. Too bad so many people never look. They probably never check their blind spots while driving either. With the high traffic around the Rose Bowl, I'm constantly giving people a lot of space when I pass because so many of them will just swerve over without notice.