SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER  2007

Let it Roll! Pasadena Loves Bikes

You Can’t Be Too Prepared
 

ARTS Bus Ridership is Up

Partnerships Benefit Children and Families
 

City Hall To Community: “Welcome Back!”

Let it Roll! Pasadena Loves Bikes

With a comprehensive bike master plan, handy bike maps and safety brochures, 60 miles of new bike lanes and 300 new bike racks, it's no wonder Pasadena is known as one of the most bike-friendly communities in Los Angeles County.

Many Pasadena traffic signals have devices that detect cars as well as bicyclists, helping you breeze right through. When you're riding your bike in the street toward a red light, in most cases a sensor will trigger the signal to turn green. If it doesn't work right away, place your bicycle inside the loop in the roadway (look for a six-foot asphalt circle in each lane before the crosswalk), and the signal will know you're waiting to cross. If you don't see loops in the pavement, look up to see if there's a video camera pointed at you from the traffic light. If there is, it probably has already detected you and you should see a green light shortly. (If there aren't any loops or cameras, the signal is set on a typical fixed time cycle and you'll get a green light before long.)

Originally designed solely for cars, the devices are meant to optimize signals and ease traffic flow. Field tests are conducted to set them so they're just sensitive enough to detect a bike but not so sensitive that a bird or small object will cause the light to change.

Pasadena's Transportation Department is helping make our community a great place to live, work and play - and where you don't need a car to get around. For more information on cycling in Pasadena, watch "Pasadena: Geared for Bikes" on KPAS or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/transportation.

For more information about bicycling through Pasadena, call 744-8747.

You Can’t Be Too Prepared

From windstorms and earthquakes to wildfires and floods, Southern California has more than its share of natural and human-caused emergencies and disasters.

Pasadena Fire Department reminds all residents to be prepared for the types of disasters that can affect this region:

• Make a Plan – Establish responsibilities for each member of your household. Learn the post-disaster policies at your child’s school; and conduct a household evacuation drill in your home twice a year.

• Build a Kit – Plan to store enough supplies for at least three days for everyone in your household, including items for infants, seniors and people with disabilities. Store your supplies in a sturdy but easy-to-carry container such as a large backpack or duffel bag. Replace certain supplies, such as water and food, every six months. Keep a smaller version of the kit in your vehicle and pack one for your child to take to school.

• Take a Free Class – Pasadena Fire Department offers free Pasadena Emergency Response Team (PERT) training classes for neighborhood groups, community-based organizations and businesses. The class includes disaster preparedness, first aid, fire suppression and light search and rescue.

• Be Prepared for Earthquakes – Protect your property before the next earthquake strikes. Bolt bookcases and tall furniture to wall studs. Brace or anchor high or top-heave objects. Secure items that might fall, such as televisions, books, computers, etc. Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets that store bottled foods, glass and china.

• Learn More – Visit www.cityofpasadena.net and click on Emergency Preparedness or call 744-7276. No Internet access? It’s free at Pasadena Central Library and all branches.

ARTS Bus Ridership is Up

In the past 12 months residents have taken about 275,000 new trips using the Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System (ARTS) - a 19 percent increase in riders! Hop on and you won't be alone: More than 1.7 million riders will board ARTS buses this year, an average of 740 more riders each day than last year.

Improved bus stop signage includes route schedules and maps, making it easier for riders to be more spontaneous and confident. Fares remain low, with 40 percent of riders paying just 50˘ or using Metro EZ Transit Passes. Nearly half of Pasadena ARTS Bus riders pay just 25˘ a ride by boarding with a student ID or qualifying for senior and disabled discounts, while the rest use transfers and passes. In addition to EZ passes, ARTS Bus drivers accept Metrolink passes and tickets, Access Services IDs and Pasadena Dial-A-Ride IDs.

For more information visit www.cityofpasadena.net/transportation (click on Transit Planning and Operations) or call 744-4055.

Partnerships Benefit Children and Families

Thousands of school-aged children beat the summertime blues this year thanks to partnerships between the city of Pasadena and Pasadena Unified School District. We pooled our efforts to provide swimming and playground programs, meals at parks, recreation classes and field trips. Now that school is back in session, even more collaborations are in the works.

Tennis courts at John Muir and Pasadena high schools are open to the public on weekends at no charge. Reservations are not required except for tournaments and other special events. The city funded renovation of 10 courts at John Muir High School.

To provide additional park space in the Central District, the city has funded renovation of the elementary play field at McKinley School, including new shade structures, parkways and grass.

To increase pedestrian safety, the city’s Transportation Department is revising maps to PUSD elementary and middle schools to highlight routes with sidewalks, crosswalks and signage, and produced a video about pedestrian safety starring Muir students (visit www.cityofpasadena.net/transportation and scroll down to Pedestrian Safety). To provide safer access at Pasadena High School, the city and PUSD have developed and funded a plan for two new pick-up/drop-off areas on Washington Boulevard and at the student parking area on Sierra Madre Boulevard.

A smooth and safe back-to-school process has been aided by Pasadena police and fire officials who have planned and coordinated programs with PUSD including leadership training for school athletes and other interested students who will work with public safety officials and promote safe campus atmospheres.

The Kids’ Kloset drive is a new partnership of city and PUSD employees through Sept. 14 to provide homeless families with vital needs such as clothes, school supplies and personal hygiene products.

The Fire Department is advising PUSD on disaster preparedness, including emergency operations for campuses and tips for parents as they pack emergency kits/backpacks for their children ages 6 to 12 to take to school. PUSD will participate in a city-led emergency operations drill in November.

For more information about city/school partnerships, email lfowler@cityofpasadena.net or call 744-4732.

City Hall To Community: “Welcome Back!”

Centennial Square in front of Pasadena City Hall was transformed into a festival atmosphere July 15 during the first of two grand reopening events
The PUSD High School Summer Jazz Ensemble and the Caltech Nano Jazz Band performed while stilts-walkers, jugglers and balloon artists entertained spectators. Armory Center for the Arts provided children’s activities and about 50 artists from California Art Club created paintings of City Hall.

After Pasadena’s mayor proclaimed City Hall open for business, the Pasadena Pops Orchestra performed a free community concert of symphonic compositions and popular standards for an audience of thousands.

City Hall’s courtyard was the place to be July 22 while queuing up for architectural tours led by Pasadena Heritage:

A barbershop quartet and Dixieland band performed, visitors enjoyed ice cream sundaes and root beer floats, photo displays chronicled the retrofit and restoration project, and the paintings created on July 15 were exhibited.

For more information about the project, call (626) 744-4755 or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/cityhall.