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Letter to the Editor

Gallery: From Highland Park to Pasadena On Two Wheels

How do you get from Highland Park to Pasadena on a bike? There are lots of different routes, but I’ve got one that has become my “North East Passage"

 
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Northeast Passage
In a recent interview with KCET Departures, outdoor survivalist and native foods expert Christopher Nyerges described the path of the Arroyo Seco River from the LA River, through Highland Park, to Pasadena as a prehistoric highway – moving goods, culture, and people. Today, the Arroyo Seco Parkway (aka “110 freeway”) has paved over the trails of aboriginal peoples of the region, conveniently connecting Pasadena to Highland Park and the greater Los Angeles area for those driving cars. What has been great news for people driving cars has become bad news for those of us that ride bikes. How do you get from Highland Park to Pasadena on a bike? There are lots of different routes, but I’ve got one that has become my “North East Passage” – avoiding as much car-only ugliness as possible, passing through beautiful areas and streets, and sidestepping as many grueling climbs as possible on the way from Highland Park to lovely Old Town Pasadena. Josef Bray Ali
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In a recent interview with KCET Departures, outdoor survivalist and native foods expert Christopher Nyerges described the path of the Arroyo Seco River from the LA River, through Highland Park, to Pasadena as a prehistoric highway – moving goods, culture, and people. Today, the Arroyo Seco Parkway (aka “110 freeway”) has paved over the trails of aboriginal peoples of the region, conveniently connecting Pasadena to Highland Park and the greater Los Angeles area for those driving cars. What has been great news for people driving cars has become bad news for those of us that ride bikes. How do you get from Highland Park to Pasadena on a bike? There are lots of different routes, but I’ve got one that has become my “North East Passage” – avoiding as much car-only ugliness as possible, passing through beautiful areas and streets, and sidestepping as many grueling climbs as possible on the way from Highland Park to lovely Old Town Pasadena. Credit Josef Bray Ali
This ride is a moderate difficulty climb from Highland Park to Old Town Pasadena. The start point is convenient to the Metro Gold Line Heritage Square station and the 81 and 83 Metro bus lines (which run 24 hours). Total cost for the day if you arrive by bike and pack your own lunch: $0. Free parking at the Flying Pigeon LA bike shop if you want to arrive by car (and then leave on your bike). The start of the North East Passage, for me, is always at the North East LA (aka “NELA”) bike industrial complex at the corner of Avenue 37 and North Figueroa Street – where my bike shop, Flying Pigeon LA, and the bike repair collective the Bike Oven are located. The street address is 3714 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90065. So, let’s get mounted up and riding! Credit Josef Bray Ali
“Dedication of Arroyo Seco bike path ca. 1983″. This low-resolution image is from the collection “Shades of L.A.: Mexican American Community” housed at the Los Angeles Public Library. It depicts City Councilman Art Snyder (holding scissors with boy) at dedication of the Arroyo Seco bike path some time in 1983. Turn right on East Avenue 43 over the bridge. Take the first left onto Mosher Avenue. This will take you to the parking lagoon for Montecito Heights Recreation Center. Off to the left of some dumpsters you’ll spot a cement path – the beginning of the Arroyo Seco Bike Path! Credit Josef Bray-Ali
The Arroyo Seco Bike Path was completed in the 1980′s and runs for about 2 miles in the river bed of the Arroyo Seco.Riding along the cement lined walls of the Arroyo, you’ll have a chance to appreciate the geography of the region, and the multiple overlapping periods of human habitation. On your right looms the hills of Ernest E Debs Regional park, home of the Audobon Center. To your left, the noise of rushing water and high speed freeway traffic. Credit Josef Bray-Ali
As the Arroyo Seco Bike Path ends, the scent of horse manure and the crow of feral roosters will beckon you up a ramp and into the parking lot behind the Arroyo Seco Stables. The stables are a reminder of the area’s pastoral legacy. People keep horses here to preserve their heritage, plus horsies and chickens are cute. Credit Josef Bray-Ali
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Josef Bray-Ali is the owner of Flying Pigeon Bike Shop in Higland Park and a longtime Northeast L.A. pedestrian/bicyclist advocate. He also blogs over at FlyingPigeon-LA.com. Bray-Ali shared his most recent blog--which documents a bike ride between two Highland Park and Pasadena--with Patch.

Follow the photos Above to track Josef's journey from along the "Northeast Passage."


About this column: Talk to Patch is an opportunity for you, the reader, to tell us what's on your mind. Related Topics: Bicycles and flying pigeon
How do you ride from Highland Park to Pasadena? Tell us in the comments.

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Reies Flores

5:26 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Great story Josef, and nice pictures. I love how you've woven NELA's culture and history into the story of the "Northeast Passage". I used to ride the Arroyo Seco Bike Path with my uncle when I was a kid, some of my fondest memories. Nice shout out to Christopher Nyerges as well. That guy is just amazing. It's nice to see his name on Patch. Thanks for this, Josef.

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Harvey

5:59 am on Friday, February 3, 2012

Thanks Josef, I look forward to riding this exactly the way you have instructed. I have to get into your store one of these days :)

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    3714 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA

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