The South Pasadena City Council approved plans earlier this month to replace the parking lane along one side of Fremont Avenue with a two-way bike lane.
The traffic safety project was initially discussed at a meeting on May 6, alongside plans to add a dedicated bike lane to Huntington Drive as well. The latter were approved, but council members decided to table discussion regarding Fremont Avenue to a meeting on June 3, over concerns regarding parking.
Fremont has some of the most heavily impacted parking in the city, with many portions consistently at or near capacity during peak hours, according to reports by city staff. It is also one of the most dangerous streets in South Pasadena for pedestrians and cyclists, according to residents who spoke out during public comments. One of them, Jorge Goytisolo, said it’s “a road that I just will not ride on.”
“I can tell you it’s not because they don’t want to; it’s because they don’t feel safe,” resident and co-leader of the Arroyo Vista Elementary School Bike Bus Andrea Knopf said. “When people feel safe enough to walk or bike they slow down. They talk to each other. They become part of their community instead of simply passing through it.”