Newsletters

November 2023

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

  We here at South Pas Active Streets are entering the final push of the Save Our Slow Streets campaign and we need your help. We’re asking you to show your support for the Slow Street Pilot program when we bring our petition results to the MTIC commission meeting on Tuesday. Read on for details or click here to email commissioners now.

  South Pasadena has taken some small steps toward making our streets safer through the Slow Street program. This pilot program is using quick-build material to show how we can better allocate road space and improve safety. In time, these installations can be added to other streets and rebuilt with more durable and attractive designs. However, this program will not continue if we don’t speak up and say we support the goals of slower, safer streets! A few vocal residents are saying that the changes are not welcome… and council members are listening.

  The pilot program was shortened from six to three months after some complaints. We are now at the 3-month review period, in which the MTIC commission will make a recommendation and the council will make a decision on the pilot program on December 6. We continue to see damage to the installation from drivers running them over. People need the full 6-month pilot to learn how to drive while providing space for other street users.

  How can you help?

• First, please take a moment to send an email to MTIC before Tuesday at noon describing why you want the slow street pilot to be extended to 6 months and expanded to other streets, including Mission Street. Commision meetings typically get very few letters, so each one is impactful.

• Second, reach out to your councilmember and tell them directly via email or phone that you value safer streets and the slow street pilot program.

• Third, save the date for December 6th at 7pm. We’ll need people to show up when the city council considers a final decision on the program.

• Finally, fill out and share our petition, if you have not already done so: https://www.southpasactive.org/projects/save-our-slow-streets. Every signature counts!

  Thanks to those of you who have signed our petition! The online form includes a question: "Why is this important to you?". Your responses are compelling and inspiring, including these:

• “South Pasadena has become inundated with traffic, speeding & collisions and it’s endangering the safety of all and severely impeding our children’s right to exploration, safe travels, and self-sufficiency.”

• “My family has lived here for generations. A lot has changed over that time including increased car traffic. Many cars drive through our city without considering that we are our own city, and that our pedestrians have a right to be safe."

• “Cars destroy cities and the climate. If you want there to be life on Earth, you need to provide people with safe and sustainable alternatives to them.”

• “I have children walking to and from the high school, middle school and Marengo daily. Keep our children safe.”

Thanks for your support,

Casey Law, on behalf of South Pas Active Streets