Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a deadline to sign-up?
Are dogs allowed on the freeway?
Can I use my skateboard, in-line skates or scooter on the freeway?
Will there by water or rest stops available on the freeway?
Why is the walk free when the bike ride costs money?
If I have a tandem bicycle or am riding with a child, do I register once or twice?

What is ArroyoFest?
Why are you doing this?
Is this the first-year for this event?
Whose idea was this?
Who is running the festival? Who is sponsoring ArroyoFest?
Does this have to do with the completion of the 710 freeway?
What is the Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway?
Has Caltrans agreed to close the Parkway? Is closing the Parkway legal?
When will you get the permits for the event?
How long will the Parkway be closed?
How much will ArroyoFest cost?
How long is the walk and where does it start?
How long is the bike ride and where does it start?
Is ArroyoFest just one-day?
How is Occidental College involved?
Sounds like a great event. How can I help?

Is there a deadline to sign-up?

There is no deadline to sign-up. You can show up on June 15 and participate. Registering ahead of time will make event day easy; if you do decide to just show up, we encourage you to arrive early to register.

Are dogs allowed on the freeway?

We're asking people to leave their dogs (and other pets) at home for the morning. While most dogs are well-behaved, the large crowds anticipated for ArroyoFest has the potential to create an unfortunate situation on the freeway. Dogs don't always get along with each other or with strangers and small children. For this and some other reasons, ArroyoFest encourages sharing the excitement of ArroyoFest with your pet once you get home.

Can I use my skateboard, in-line skates or scooter on the freeway?

Insurance prevents us from having skateboards, in-line skates and scooters on the freeway. The insurance market for special events has changed dramatically over the past year since 9/11. Insurance for skateboards, in-line skates and scooters to our knowledge is not available for an event like this. ArroyoFest has aimed to be as inclusive as possible but is bound by certain constraints.

Will there by water or rest stops available on the freeway?

No. Cyclists and walkers leaving from Glenarm and Arroyo Parkway will be able to fill their personal water bottles at the start of the bike ride and water will be available for walkers at Sycamore Grove Park. We also want to keep the freeway as clean as possible and do not want to encourage litter on the road.

Why is the walk free when the bike ride costs money?

There are several reasons for this. Cyclists get the use of the freeway for a longer period of time and use more of the freeway than the walkers. Insurance for the bike ride is also more expensive than the walk. ArroyoFest has made every effort to make the event accessible from all economic levels. Most bike rides charge a great deal more. The same day as ArroyoFest there the Chicago Bicycle Federation is closing Lakeshore Drive in Chicago for a similar event and is charging $35. ArroyoFest is not a fundraiser, but we still need to help to cover our costs. Insurance and traffic control is expensive. We will be asking for donations from walkers on the day of the event.

If I have a tandem bicycle or am riding with a child, do I register once or twice?

Twice. We need each person on the freeway to sign a waiver (or have a guardian sign a waiver for them) and pay $10. And everyone on wheels for the ride MUST wear a helmet at all times.

What is ArroyoFest?

ArroyoFest is a celebration of those things that connect the communities of the Arroyo Seco. Connecting the rugged San Gabriel Mountains with the Los Angeles River, this 22-mile stream links together the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge and northeast Los Angeles.

ArroyoFest’s core event is being hosted by Occidental College and has three interrelated components:
  • A bike ride
  • A walk
  • A festival
These activities will take place between roughly 7:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the Parkway and in Sycamore Grove Park, located in Highland Park next to the Parkway.

Several other organizations and groups within the Arroyo area are planning activities for the days leading up to ArroyoFest and for the afternoon of June 15th. These events include open houses, walking tours, hikes and lectures.

Why are you doing this?

The purpose of ArroyoFest is to highlight several ongoing or proposed projects within the Arroyo that can improve the quality of life for everyone in the area. By connecting the communities of the Arroyo Seco, we hope to create momentum behind these projects and make the Arroyo a model for how create livable communities across Southern California and the rest of the country. Find out more about the issues affecting the Arroyo Seco.

Is this the first-year for this event?

Yes. If ArroyoFest goes well, ArroyoFest could become an annual or bi-annual event.

Whose idea was this?

The idea for ArroyoFest arose from a discussion group called the Arroyo Seco Collaborative. The Collaborative, hosted by the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI) at Occidental College, serves as a forum for discussions about planning, policy and community action aimed at improving the quality of life for the communities along the Arroyo Seco. Dennis Crowley, a longtime bike advocate, brought the idea for a bike ride on the Parkway to the group. The idea quickly expanded to include a walk and a community festival that could engage a wider audience in quality of life issues.

Who is running the festival? Who is sponsoring ArroyoFest?

Members of the Arroyo Seco Collaborative formed the ArroyoFest Steering Committee to organize the event. The Committee, with the support of UEPI, has been working over the past year to raise funds, gain the support of elected officials, recruit volunteers and plan the details of the event. This past February, ArroyoFest became its own non-profit organization and contracted with the principals for the company that puts on the L.A. Marathon to handle the logistics of the event and secure the event permits.

Does this have to do with the completion of the 710 freeway?

ArroyoFest has no connection to the completion of the 710 freeway. ArroyoFest is not against freeways, but does believe that a good transportation system should encompass and encourage a range of options, including rail, bike, bus and pedestrian travel.

What is the Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway?

The Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway is the official name of the Pasadena Freeway section of the 110 – from Avenue 26 in Los Angeles to Glenarm Street in Pasadena. Senate Majority Leader Richard Polanco led efforts to have this section of freeway designated as an historic road. In 1993 the state officially recognized the road as an historic parkway. This past summer the road was designated a National Scenic Byway, qualifying the road and the surrounding communities for federal highway funds to improve the aesthetic experience of motorists.

Has Caltrans agreed to close the Parkway? Is closing the Parkway legal?

Yes, the ArroyoFest Steering Committee has been working with Caltrans for over a year figure out how to close the Parkway to have as little impact as possible on traffic. We are in the process of securing a special event permit from Caltrans.

When will you get the permits for the event?

There are several permits from the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena and Los Angeles that an event such as this requires. Different permits will likely be acquired at different times. Once we have permits from the cities, have purchased insurance and contracted with a traffic control company, we are able to request a formal permit from Caltrans. We hope to make this request in late January or early February. Although we have gotten preliminary approval from Caltrans for the event, we will not receive the final permit until a few months before the event.

How long will the Parkway be closed?

The final details of the event are still being worked out but we have permission to close the northbound lanes of the Parkway from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The southbound lanes will close from 6 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m.

How much will ArroyoFest cost?

The working budget for ArroyoFest is approximately $235,000 dollars. The Steering Committee anticipates a significant portion of the costs will be secured through in-kind donations. The remainder of the funds will come from foundations, grants, commercial sponsorships and grassroots contributions. We are currently in the midst of our fundraising drive. Sponsor packets are available if you know of a company or agency that would be interested in contributing to ArroyoFest. Find out more about becoming a sponsor.

How long is the walk and where does it start?

The walk event will begin at 8:30 from Pasadena and 9:00 a.m from three of the parks located along the Parkway in the city of Los Angeles:
  • Arroyo Seco Park at Avenue 64 and Marmion Way
  • Arroyo Seco Park at Via Marisol and Avenue 57
  • Lacy Street Park at Avenue 26
Walkers from north and south will enter the Parkway and come together in Sycamore Grove Park for the community festival. The walk will be a festive occasion, with decorative banners and music, both on the Parkway and in the parks lining this stretch of the Arroyo.

Walkers will be able to return to their starting points at their leisure. Walkers returning north will use the bike path that travels down the center of the Arroyo’s channel. Walkers returning south will pass several landmarks such as the Heritage Square Museum and the historic Lummis Home.

This total distance for the walk is one to three miles round trip from Los Angeles parks, depending on the starting location. This distance is short enough to accommodate parents with strollers and people in wheelchairs. The distance from Pasadena is four miles one way or eight miles round trip

How long is the bike ride and where does it start?

The bike ride will begin at 7:00 a.m. as cyclists ride past the sign saying “No pedestrians and bicycles allowed” at the beginning of the Parkway at Glenarm Street in Pasadena. Cyclists can bike 4, 12 or 16 miles.

Cyclists biking 4 miles will end their ride in Sycamore Grove Park in Highland Park, the site of the ArroyoFest Community Festival. Cyclists choosing the 12-mile ride will travel down to Avenue 26 where they will exit, make a quick turn and begin climbing back up to the start of the Freeway in Pasadena. Cyclists choosing the 16-mile ride will bike down to Sycamore Grove Park after returning to the bike start in Pasadena.

Is ArroyoFest just one-day?

The ArroyoFest Steering Committee has concentrated its efforts on Sunday, June 15th for the walk, bike ride and community festival in Sycamore Grove Park. Several other organizations, however, are planning to host events for the days and weeks leading up to June 15th. The potential exists for an entire weekend of events and activities up and down the Arroyo.

How is Occidental College involved?

The Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College has hosted the Arroyo Seco Collaborative from its inception and serves on the ArroyoFest Steering Committee. The Institute’s involvement is part of Occidental’s ongoing commitment to community-based learning and to helping improve the quality of life of surrounding communities. Occidental College is accepting donations in the name of the ArroyoFest, until the group receives an official letter from the IRS recognizing its tax-exempt status.

For more information, write us at arroyo@oxy.edu, or ArroyoFest, 2106 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041, or call Marcus Renner, UEPI’s Education Coordinator, at (323) 341-5093.

Sounds like a great event. How can I help?

The best way for you to help is for you, your family, organization, school, business or religious institution to become a “Friend of ArroyoFest.” Friends help us get the word out and make contacts within the community. Sponsor packets are also available if you know someone who can donate time or money to ArroyoFest. We’ve found that personal connections are the key to finding resources for this type of endeavor. You can also volunteer on June 15th or make a donation yourself. All checks should be made payable to ArroyoFest – Occidental College.

For more information, write us at arroyo@oxy.edu, or ArroyoFest c/o Urban and Environmental Policy Institute, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Los Angeles, CA 90041 or call Marcus Renner, UEPI’s Education Coordinator, at (323) 341-5093.