February 2026

February 2026

February is a big month for active transportation in South Pas. We have exciting wins to celebrate on school zone speed limits, a major community meeting you won't want to miss, and a special feature on the incredible leaders behind our AV Bike Bus. Read on!

Here is the latest news on active transportation and street safety in our community.

🚲 Feature: The People Behind the Arroyo Vista Bike Bus

A Bike Bus is a group of children and families who ride together to school along a set route, picking up riders at stops along the way. It is just like a bus, but on bikes. The concept took root in Spain as a "bicibús" in 2020. The appeal was immediate: kids arrived at school energized and happy, streets were safer because of the sheer visibility of the group, and families discovered a joyful sense of community they hadn't found in the school drop-off line.

In Portland, Oregon, teacher Coach Balto began organizing the Alameda Bike Bus on Earth Day of 2022. His Bike Bus became a sensation, drawing hundreds of riders, national press coverage, and a growing movement. South Pas Active was inspired by that example and launched monthly rides at the start of the 2022 school year. What started as a handful of families on two routes, has grown into a program with weekly rides on 5 routes, around 100 riders, and deep engagement from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

Starting in September 2025, Kristen Pumphrey and Andrea Knopf took the lead on organizing the Arroyo Vista Bike Bus. At the same time, the AV PTA created an official committee to help organize and promote the activity. Since that time, the weekly rides have seen huge growth (see graph on the right) to around 80 riders.

Kristen and Andrea didn't set out to lead a movement — they just wanted their kids to ride to school. For Andrea, the spark came early: her older son learned to ride at three and a half years old and immediately wanted to pedal to school. Her husband Philipp started taking him, but they were the only ones out there. Kristen was inspired by Bike Bus World and a few friends quickly said, "let's do it.". She says Bike Bus is "critical mass for children" — the same principle that makes a group of cyclists visible and safe on city streets, applied to the school commute. Andrea captures the feeling even more simply: sitting in traffic one morning, she thought about how the Bike Bus makes streets human again: "Kids are meeting kids and parents are meeting parents. We're connecting."

So why has the Arroyo Vista Bike Bus taken off the way it has? Partly, it's smart design: the AV bike bus has grown a lot in the last year because it started a route near the library on streets that don't require crossing busy intersections. This lowered the barrier for nervous families. And partly, it's a shift in how people see cycling itself. "This shows that bikes are not just toys," Andrea says. Seeing children ride confidently through the neighborhood sends a message to the whole community: this is a city where kids belong.

The biggest obstacle, both women agree, isn't the kids — it's the parents fear. "I don't actually think kids are scared to ride to school," Kristen says. "It's the parents." The group dynamic is exactly what breaks down that fear. Kristen remembers how much it helped to have her husband riding alongside her when she first commuted downtown by bike; the Bike Bus gives every family that same sense of companionship and safety in numbers. Beyond the fear, there's the pull of routine — parents unsure of the route, reluctant to commit to waking up a little earlier. By setting a regular schedule ("Tuesday morning bike bus!"), families can plan more easily. The music helps, too. Philipp's playlist has become a weekly talking point — "Ooh, I can't wait to see what's on his playlist this week" — and the flags and bubbles turn the ride into something closer to a celebration than a commute. "Hearing the music gives me chills," Andrea says, "because it reminds us of our childhood."

Recently, the state advocacy organization CalBike invited Kristen and Andrea to share their experience at an upcoming conference in Sacramento. What do they intend to share? The power of child-centered advocacy. "When we talk about infrastructure and it is often boring," Kristen said, "but when children tell their story, that changes the behavior of everyone." Andrea adds a longer view — kids who grow up riding to school become the adults who notice when a car drifts into a bike lane and speak up about it. Parents who ride alongside their children don't just get to school safely; they become advocates for better streets.

The ripple effects go further than the commute itself. The team organized Pedalpalooza at Arroyo Vista — a joyful, safe space for families to discover cycling together — and they have big plans for more family rides beyond the school run. "I would love more bike buses," Andrea says, "because it normalizes being present. You have movement, fresh air. Yes, you are rushing — but it's a slower morning. Everyone's happy."

🛣️ Fremont & Huntington Corridor Improvements: Show Up and Be Heard

Back in 2023, the City of South Pasadena partnered with Toole Design Group to develop traffic calming improvements for two of our most important corridors: Fremont Avenue and Huntington Drive. That process was built on genuine community engagement — residents, cyclists, pedestrians, and neighbors came together to shape designs that would calm traffic, reduce cut-through driving, and make these streets safer for everyone.

The next phase of that work is now underway, managed by a new firm, Kimley-Horn. At the first community meeting on Monday, February 23rd, we learned that Toole design concepts for both streets are not being considered. Kimley-Horn has effectively set aside the results of that earlier community process and started from scratch.

Worse, the options they are presenting raise serious safety concerns. On Fremont Avenue — currently posted at 30 mph — one of the proposed options is a sharrow, a road marking that is nearly prohibited under California state law and is widely understood to provide no meaningful protection for cyclists. On Huntington Drive, another option would place a painted bike lane immediately adjacent to 40 mph traffic lanes. These are not serious solutions. They will not calm traffic, they do not protect riders, and they do not reflect our city's stated goals for safer, healthier streets.

This project is moving fast. Construction is targeted to begin this year. That means we have a narrow window to push back and insist on designs that actually work — designs that slow cars down, reduce cut-through traffic, and make Fremont and Huntington safe for people of all ages and abilities.

The next community meeting is Thursday, March 5th at 6pm in the Library Community Room. If you care about safe streets in South Pasadena, please come. Bring a neighbor. Speak up. Ask why the Toole designs were abandoned. Demand that they remove sharrows and high-speed painted bike lanes designs from consideration. The engineers and city staff need to hear from us — loudly and clearly — before these plans are finalized.

🚸 Speed Limit Victory — and More Work Ahead

Schools Are Getting Their 15 MPH Zones Back

Late last year, the City of South Pasadena quietly increased speed limits in front of our elementary schools — without any public notice. We refused to let that stand.

Together with families, students, and neighbors, we collected over 150 signatures on a petition to restore the school zone speed limits and push for further reductions across the city. We have presented our petition to both the Public Works and Infrastructure Commission (PWIC) and the Board of Education, making the case that slower streets mean safer streets for everyone — kids, families, seniors, and people walking and biking throughout our city. (Special thanks to Jeff Leon for committing to a long School Board meeting!)

This week, the City announced it will restore 15 mph school zone speed limits in front of our elementary schools. Signs and street paint will be updated in the next week or two. Keep your eyes out — and thank you to everyone who signed, shared, and showed up!

Pushing for More Reductions Citywide

The work doesn't stop there. We presented our petition to PWIC last year as they were reviewing speed limits city wide. In January, city staff revised their recommendations to increase the number of streets with speed limit reductions from 0 to 4 — a meaningful step forward. But we believe we can go further. State law AB 43 gives California cities new authority to reduce speed limits beyond what was previously allowed, and South Pasadena should be using every tool available to us.

The members of PWIC agreed. Commissioners asked city staff to look for additional opportunities for reductions, including on Monterey Road — a street well known for speeding and collisions. We'll be watching closely and keeping you informed as this process moves forward.

📅 Upcoming Events

March 2 and 3, 6pm — North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit community meetings. Learn about and support the new public transportation service in SGV. Next meetings are in person in Eagle Rock on March 2 and Pasadena on March 3.

Mar 5, 6pm — Huntington & Fremont Corridor Community Meeting (Second Session) Did you miss the first meeting outreach meeting? This is your chance to push for a more inclusive, healthy design. Join us! Library Community Room

We are a 100% volunteer-led organization and we can use your help with advocacy, events, and outreach. Fill out the volunteer form on our home page or email us at info@southpasactive.org to chip in.

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