Arroyo Seco bicycle path

The Arroyo Seco bike path is a short path leading along the Arroyo Seco river basin in Los Angeles, from the Montecito Heights Recreation Area through the gap between Ernest E Debs Regional Park and Sycamore Park in the Highland Park district, paralleling State Route 110, and ending at Arroyo Park in South Pasadena.

Description

The Southwest portion of the path runs along the high ground overlooking Arroyo Seco through chain-link fencing, and the Northeast portion of the path runs on the concrete slabs that make up the banks of the drainage basin. For safety reasons, if rain is predicted the paths in the river rights of way are closed -- that is, the gates to the lower sections are padlocked (Michelle Mowery, Senior Project Coordinator, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation Bicycle Program).

Both the upper and lower portions of the path are scantly traveled, with much of the traffic being pedestrians walking their dogs or jogging.

Occasionally, debris will wash down onto the path from the surrounding hills or wash up onto the path from the drainage water, making for some dirty or muddy rumbly patches, but most frequently the path is clear.

For obvious drainage reasons, there is a very slight and mostly consistent downhill grade in the Southwest direction, with some stretches (notably under overpasses) with slightly greater slope.

Cautions

The ramp leading to the upper portion of the Southwest-bound path at Sycamore Park can appear rather suddenly, and the cobblestone continuation of the river bank past that point is hazardous on a bicycle. Riders should watch for the footbridge overhead and its characteristic moire pattern to avoid running off the path.

Entry Points / Parking

*End: Park at Arroyo Seco Park - Enter the lower portion of the path through a fence toward the Arroyo Seco basin, travel Southwest.
*Middle: Park on Griffin Avenue near the footbridge to Sycamore Park - Enter the lower portion of the path through a fence just past the footbridge and travel Northeast, enter the upper portion of the path directly and travel Southwest.
*End: Park at Montecito Heights Recreation Area - Enter the lower portion of the path by going toward the Arroyo Seco basin and travel Northeast.

Ownership

Bike path quality in the City of Los Angeles is coordinated by the Senior Project Coordinator of the Bicycle Program for the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation. As of March 30, 2005, this was Michelle Mowery: 213-972-4962 / [e-mail].

The DOT has been very responsive to rider comments and coordinates with the LADPW, and Parks Department to resolve issues within a reasonable period of time.

River paths that have been closed due to forecast rain but have not been re-opened can be reported at http://ladpw.org/Services/Water/index.cfm by using the Report a Problem link.

Current Condition

The mud slides from the February and March 2005 floods have been completely cleared from the path, with only slight patches of dirt scraped down to as far as a skid loader can pick up. The trail is very rideable through these points, unlike the impassable piles that blocked the path back then.

Future plans

References

*Google Map of [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=ernest+debs+regional+park&ll=34.096504,-118.190349&sll=34.104071,-118.200646&spn=0.036189,0.045988&sspn=0.038093,0.076389&iwloc=A&hl=en Ernest E. Debs Regional Park]
*E-mail discussion with Michelle Mowery, Senior Project Coordinator of the Bicycle Program for the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation

ee also

*Los Angeles bike paths
*Segregated cycle facilities

External links

*http://ladpw.org/Services/Water/index.cfm