A band of walkers gathered Saturday at Pasadena Presbyterian Church with a mission: Give pedestrians in this city their rightful place on the sidewalk. Reduce auto vs. pedestrian conflicts. Add some more shade trees.
"Make it enjoyable to walk," said Nancy Nelson, a Pasadena resident.
Nelson was one of about 40 people who came to hear the conclusions from the city's first "walkabout," which was held on a foggy morning in March. At that event, about 125 people fanned out over 25 walking routes to understand why walkers often say Pasadena's streets feel so hostile.
"Loud, scary and fast," one participant wrote of Walnut Street.
Some sidewalks were so narrow that pedestrians felt threatened by the rush of cars speeding on Lake Avenue toward the 210 Freeway onramp.
One volunteer recalled a motorist nearly running him over at a crosswalk.
Some suggested adding trees to provide additional shade from the hot sun. Others wanted more lamps to illuminate the sidewalks instead of just the road. Some asked for more signs giving directions to parks, Old Pasadena, the playhouse district.
Many complained about a lack of signs advising walkers how to get to the Gold Line light rail stations.
Other ideas targeted auto traffic.
Widen some sidewalks at the expense of roadway, some suggested. Others wanted police to crack down on speeding motorists.
"I think it really is important to just slow down the drivers," said Deborah Murphy, an urban designer hired to organize the walkabout by the Playhouse District Assn., a Pasadena business improvement district.
Pasadena already has plans to add more trees and historical-style street lamps in the playhouse district, said city engineer Daniel Rix. Other ideas, such as more directional signs, are good points that the city should consider implementing, he said.
But some suggestions, such as widening sidewalks and narrowing streets, would be more difficult to accomplish in a short period, Rix said.
The walkabout recommendations will continue to be discussed by business and city leaders.
Pasadena is not alone in trying to improve the plight of the pedestrian.
Los Angeles officials are trying to reverse a policy in Hollywood that calls for wider streets when a large development is built. The policy also translates into narrower sidewalks. In Glassell Park, residents say they want more bike lanes and wider sidewalks, which are sometimes obstructed by utility poles or boxes.
