So far we’ve covered LA and environs, the Valley, the South Bay communities, and the Harbor Corridor. Today, we’re tackling sidewalk riding rules in the western San Gabriel Valley.
(Ed. note: Before we get started, let’s just make clear that all the same disclaimers from Part 1 still apply. Good? Good.)
La Cañada Flintridge:
Adopting Title 15 of the LA County Code, La Cañada Flintridge prohibits riding your bike on the sidewalk. Sec. 4.04.010:
With the exception of Section 15.200 relating to civil parking penalties and late payment fees, and except as hereinafter maybe provided, Title 15 of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended from time-to-time, regulating vehicles and traffic, is hereby adopted and shall be and become the Traffic Code of the City of La Cañada Flintridge.
If you remember all the way back to Part 1, you’ll know that LA County prohibits sidewalk riding (Sec. 15.76.080).
Pasadena:
Going to the other end of the spectrum, Pasadena allows sidewalk riding practically everywhere. Sec.10.60.140:
A. It is unlawful to ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in front of any church, school or place of public assembly except where the sidewalk area is designated a bike lane by the director of transportation with official signs and markings.B. In all other areas, the rider of a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
South Pasadena:
Almost to the very word, South Pasadena replicates the sidewalk riding rules of Pasadena. The one glaring exception is that South Pasadena also prohibits riding on the sidewalk in front of a “place of business”. Sec. 7.12:
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in front of any church, school, place of business or place of public assembly.In all other sidewalk areas, the rider of a bicycle shall give the right of way to pedestrian.
We can safely put this in the “business district” column for sidewalk riding.
San Marino:
You are clear to ride in San Marino. Sec. 13.01.03:
It shall be unlawful for any individual to ride a bicycle on a City sidewalk where such action is prohibited by a posted sign.
Alhambra:
Nice and simple in Alhambra: no sidewalk riding. Sec. 10.04.020:
It shall be unlawful to ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk.
And the penalty for sidewalk riding? A whopping $5
San Gabriel:
Sidewalk riding is not allowed in any form in San Gabriel. Sec. 71.03 says:
No person shall ride, drive, propel or cause to be propelled any vehicle, bicycle or animal across or upon any sidewalk excepting over permanently constructed driveways and excepting when it is necessary for any temporary purpose to drive a loaded vehicle across a sidewalk.
Rosemead:
Following the trend, Rosemead also does not allow sidewalk riding. Like La Cañada Flintridge, Rosemead adopted Title 15 of the Los Angeles County Code. Sec. 10.04.010:
A. Except as hereinafter provided, Title 15, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Los Angeles County Code as amended and in effect July 1, 1999, is adopted by reference as an ordinance of the city. Said ordinance as so constituted and from time to time amended shall constitute and be referred to as the “Traffic Code of the City of Rosemead.”
South El Monte:
South El Monte, like a few of the cities in the Harbor Corridor, does not have its municipal code available online.
El Monte:
El Monte prohibits sidewalk riding in the CVC 240-defined “business district”. Sec. 10.28.030:
No person shall ride or propel any bicycle upon or across any public sidewalk within a business district of the city except in such cases and in such places as motor vehicles may lawfully be operated thereon.
Temple City:
Sidewalk riding is not allowed in Temple City. They want to make it clear, however, that you’re allowed to bring your bike onto the sidewalk when you’re locking it up (whew!). Sec. 3354:
No person shall ride a bicycle on any city sidewalk, pursuant to section 1401 of ordinance 6544 of the county of Los Angeles. The placing by walking, carrying or lifting of a bicycle into a bicycle rack provided by the city shall not be deemed operating a bicycle on a public sidewalk so long as same is done within a reasonable distance of a city bicycle rack.
Arcadia:
Sidewalk riding is restricted in “business districts” in Arcadia as well as on public tennis courts. There must have been a scourge of unruly bicyclists upsetting the peace-loving tennis enthusiasts of Arcadia’s distant past… Sec. 3320 says:
No person shall use or operate any bicycle or wheeled toy upon any sidewalk in a business district, adjacent to any place of public assembly or upon any public tennis court.
Sierra Madre:
At the current end of the Metro Gold Line, Sierra Madre is lacking any definitive language on sidewalk riding.
Monrovia:
The City of Monrovia has some odd language on sidewalk riding, so let’s get into it. Sec. 10.36.020 says:
No person shall use or operate any bicycle upon any sidewalk in the zone designated SP-1, Specific Plan District, Area A in Ordinance No. 75-23
Later on in the same section, it also says:
No person shall use or operate any bicycle or wheeled toy upon the specified streets, during the days and times described in division (G)(2) unless authorized by or pursuant to a permit, license or agreement approved by the City Council.
…
(2) The prohibition in division (G) of this section applies during the Monrovia Family Festival, on said Friday evenings between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on the following streets:
- (a) Myrtle Avenue between Olive Avenue and Palm Avenue; and
- (b) On the 100 block east and 100 block west of the following streets, between Ivy and Primrose Avenues: Olive, Colorado, Lemon, Lime, and Palm Avenues.
We’ll just put this in the “business district” column and call it a day.
Now that the Western San Gabriel Valley is covered, let’s take a look at the ever-lengthening list:
Sidewalk Riding is allowed
- LA City (except Venice boardwalk and posted business districts)
- West Hollywood (with extra rules)
- Burbank (though it’s still unclear)
- Redondo Beach (unless there are signs)
- Commerce (with extra rules)
- San Marino (unless there are signs)
- Pasadena (with extra rules)
Sidewalk Riding is not allowed
- LA County
- Inglewood
- Santa Monica
- Palmdale
- Westlake Village
- Malibu
- Calabasas
- Manhattan Beach (unless you’re under 14)
- Lawndale
- Hawthorne
- Gardena (unless you feel unsafe on the road)
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- Paramount
- Lynwood
- Bell Gardens (never in a business district, only allowed elsewhere if road is “hazardous”)
- Montebello
- Monterey Park
- La Cañada Flintridge
- Alhambra
- San Gabriel
- Rosemead
- Temple City
Sidewalk Riding is not allowed in “business districts”, among other rules
- Glendale
- Beverly Hills
- Culver City
- Agoura Hills
- San Fernando
- Santa Clarita
- Lancaster
- El Segundo
- Hermosa Beach
- Torrance
- Lomita (with signage, after approval of the City Council)
- Long Beach
- Carson
- Compton
- South Gate
- Huntington Park
- South Pasadena
- El Monte
- Arcadia
- Monrovia
No Clear Language in the Municipal Code
- Hidden Hills
- Avalon
- Palos Verdes Estates
- Rolling Hills Estates (lacking sidewalks)
- Rolling Hills (no sidewalks at all)
- Signal Hill
- Cudahy (no municipal code available online)
- Maywood
- Bell (no municipal code available online)
- Vernon (no municipal code available online)
- South El Monte (no municipal code available online)
- Sierra Madre
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