A Beautiful North Lake Ave
We can have a better, safer N Lake Ave and it can be beautiful too!
Due to the speed and volume of traffic on N. Lake Ave. it is recommended by Pasadena Department of Transportation that any bike lane included in the redesign be a Class IV Separated Bikeway, commonly known as a protected bike lane.
There are several ways protected bike lanes can be designed. Some designs utilize flex posts, bollards, raised curbs or parked cars to create a physical barrier between the bike lane and travel lane.
We are asking that the North Lake Ave Safety Enhancement Plan include:
protected sidewalk level bike/mobility lanes for safe, clean travel
a second row of street trees and landscaping, to help make N. Lake Ave a comfortable place to walk and ride
Landscape protected bike lane on Rosemead Blvd in Temple City
The benefits of landscape protected bike lanes include potential design features like swales and bio-swales that capture storm-water runnoff by utilizing bare soil without concrete underneath for water catchment; this feature can contributing to refilling our depleted aquifers. Street trees can provide shade, help address the heat island effect and combat climate change. Other plantings can beautify the street, making it enjoyable to walk, ride and drive along N. Lake Ave
California Native Plants
They are climate appropriate, low maintenance and can provide food and habitat to animals. The list of suggested native plants below was complied by volunteers at Arlington Garden and could potentially be used when designing landscape protected bike lanes in Pasadena like on North Lake Ave.
Arlington Garden Recommendations:
Trees: (Platanus racemosa), California Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) and Pasadena/Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii)
Western Sycamore
*Western Sycamore is already the designated street tree for N. Lake Ave
California Live Oak
Pasadena/Engelmann Oak
Shrubs: Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia) and Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis)
Toyon
Lemonade Berry
Coyote Bush
Low lying plants: California Lilac (ceanothus), White Sage (Salvia apiana), Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla), California fuschia (Epilobium canum), Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus) and Black sage (Salvia mellifera)
California Lilac “Yankee point”
White Sage
Purple Sage
California fuschia “Catalina”
Foothill Penstemon “Margarita BOP”
Black Sage
Grasses: Purple Three Awn (Aristida purpurea), Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens), California Fescue (Festuca californica) and San Diego Sedge (Carex spissa)
Purple Three Awn
Deergrass
California Fescue
San Diego Sedge