Pasadena, CA Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk speed cap
- 10 mph, 5 mph near pedestrians
- Governing sections
- Municipal Code §§ 10.16.120 and 10.60.140
- Penalty
- Infraction under Section 1.24.025
- Council authority
- Can ban sidewalk riding in retail districts by resolution
- Last amended
- Ordinance No. 7460, November 3, 2025
Summary
Pasadena authorizes official bike lanes on its roadways under Municipal Code Section 10.16.120 and separately caps sidewalk bicycle speed at 10 mph, or 5 mph near pedestrians, under Section 10.60.140, which also requires riders to yield to pedestrians and lets the City Council ban sidewalk riding in congested retail districts.
A.The rider of a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on a sidewalk and as defined in the California Vehicle Code.B.The rider of a bicycle shall not ride on a sidewalk at a speed greater than ten (10) miles per hour, and no more than five (5) miles per hour where pedestrians are present, or at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property. ... F.It is unlawful to operate a bicycle on a sidewalk where it has been posted to regulate or prohibit its use pursuant to subsection E. of this section or in a manner other prohibited by subsections A, B, or C of this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in section 1.24.025 of this code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
60, the "bicycle ordinance," most recently amended by Ordinance No. 5. 140's riding regulations require a bicyclist to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on a sidewalk (A), cap sidewalk speed at 10 mph generally and 5 mph where pedestrians are present or at a speed endangering safety (B), and require compliance with any other applicable Pasadena Municipal Code section, the Vehicle Code, or other law (C); the section exempts on-duty law enforcement bicycles (D). Subsection E lets the City Council, on demonstrated pedestrian, bicycle, or traffic safety needs, adopt a resolution regulating or banning bicycles on specific sidewalks in high-congestion retail shopping districts, with required posted signs. 130.
Violations & Fines
Riding on a sidewalk faster than 10 mph, or faster than 5 mph when pedestrians are present, riding in a manner that fails to yield to pedestrians, or riding on a sidewalk where the City Council has posted a resolution banning it, is an infraction under Section 10.60.140.F, punished under Section 1.24.025 of the Pasadena Municipal Code. Willfully defacing a bicycle's registered frame number is instead a misdemeanor under Sections 10.60.110 and 10.60.130.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can I ride my bike on a Pasadena sidewalk?
Who decides where bike lanes go in Pasadena?
Can the city ban bikes from certain sidewalks?
What is the penalty for breaking Pasadena's bicycle riding rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
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