On Saturday, I -- in collaboration with The Glendale Historical Society, Walk Bike Glendale, Montrose Patch, the City of Glendale Community Services and Parks Department, and The City of Glendale Public Works Department -- led a group of 56 riders on the Montrose Historical Bike Ride. We had an excellent group of riders of all levels of ability who enjoyed a beautiful day exploring Montrose on their bikes. After meeting at the Montrose Bike Shop (since 1952!) we covered quite a bit of Montrose history with an extra special stop inside the gates of the former Rockhaven Sanitarium. Thanks to the City of Glendale for letting us in!
In addition to Rockhaven, we stopped at and discussed the history of the La Crescenta Women's Club, the American Legion Hall (where 12 people died during the New Years Flood of 1934), the Verdugo Wash, Crescenta Valley park and the former Hindenburg Park, the defunct Montrose Railway and
the Montrose Shopping Park. You can find out more about these sites and many others at The Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley's website.
riders on Honolulu
riding through the Montrose Shopping Park
Montrose Patch editor Nicole Charky discusses the La Crescenta Women's Club
Michael Morgan, City of Glendale Historic Preservation Commissioner, tells us about the history of Rockhaven
exploring Rockhaven
Rockhaven
riders on La Crescenta Ave
a beautiful watercolor by rider Ricardo Cerezo
Colin Bogart in front of old stone country club gates near Crescenta Valley Park. He is pointing towards the Verdugo Wash and explaining how an access road alongside the wash could be adapted into a grade-separated bicycle path.
Erik Yesayan of Walk Bike Glendale
riders on Honolulu
Colin Bogart of the LA County Bicycle Coalition, who was invaluable in helping optimize our route
Councilperson Laura Friedman rode with us. She has been absolutely fantastic on bike and pedestrian issues in Glendale. She and Erik explained the proposed road diet on Honolulu, which has very low traffic volumes and is plagued by speeders and difficult to cross on foot.
gorgeous fixie
An extra special thanks to The City of Glendale's Fred Zohrevand, who has been instrumental in improving Glendale's bike parking situation, particularly in downtown Montrose. I meant to thank him at our last stop in the shopping park but forgot. Thanks, Fred!
Graeme Whifler rode with us and took pictures which you can see here.
Montrose Patch also wrote about the ride and put up a photo gallery.
Thanks to Mike Lawler, whose Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley site was an invaluable resource for preparing my ride notes.
Montrose Patch also wrote about the ride and put up a photo gallery.
Thanks to Mike Lawler, whose Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley site was an invaluable resource for preparing my ride notes.
