May 1, 2006

PASADENA BUSINESSES RESPOND
TO RISING GASOLINE PRICES

What can be done about gasoline prices predicted to rise to more than $3 a gallon?
Plenty, if you believe there’s strength in numbers. Not widely known is the fact that close to 30 work sites in Pasadena meet regularly to coordinate efforts promoting alternatives to solo driving. Named the Pasadena Transportation Management Association, the organization supports the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s and Pasadena’s own trip reduction requirements.

Participants such as JPL, Caltech, Art Center College of Design, Western Asset Plaza and the city of Pasadena together have been successful in providing incentives to thousands of employees to leave their cars at home, and save money on fuel, among other benefits.

Recent promotions include the Try Transit campaign for the Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System, known as Pasadena ARTS, and the upcoming Bike to Work Day, now in its twelfth year statewide.

In 2004 Pasadena was named the most bike-friendly city in Los Angeles County by the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition. The number of people choosing to commute by biking to work is increasing.

City staff would like to see the use increase even more. Two bike commute workshops are scheduled for city employees on May 2 to be sure bicyclists are making themselves visible and safe, and to be sure they enjoy the ride.

“Bicycle use is healthy and an environmentally friendly commute,” said Madelyn Robinson, the city’s employee transportation coordinator. In fact Pasadena’s General Plan has as one of its seven guiding principles that Pasadena will be a city where people can circulate without cars.”

Pasadena was honored for its ambitious bicycle master plan, adding 50 miles of bikeways, creating a bicycle safety brochure, planning for a bike transit center at the Memorial Park Metro Gold Line Station, and installing Share the Road signs.

The new bike routes create a network that increases access to such locations as area employment and shopping centers, high schools, colleges and Metro Gold Line stations. For brochures, city bike maps and information on Bike to Work Day May 18 call 744-7661.