Holiday Lights Ride Marks Third Year as Cycling Tour to Historic Christmas Tree Lane Reaches Capacity

The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition’s third annual Holiday Lights Ride has reached its 100-person registration limit for its nighttime cycling excursion to Christmas Tree Lane’s 104th Winter Festival.

The community bike ride on Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at Memorial Park on North Raymond Avenue and Holly Street in Pasadena, runs from 5 to 9 p.m.

The grassroots coalition, working to advance cleaner and more inclusive transportation solutions, said it welcomes additional participants who inquire directly despite the official registration cap.

“Some people who have bikes don’t feel safe riding on Pasadena streets,” said Liz Schiller, a steering committee member of the coalition. “When you’re riding with 50 people or a hundred people, you don’t have to worry about cars that much.”

The 11-mile round trip journey, featuring 600 feet of elevation gain, requires participants to sign waivers and incorporates comprehensive safety measures throughout the evening’s festivities.

“We feel it’s very, very important to let everyone be safe, and we don’t want injuries or mishaps on a ride,” Schiller said. “Our policy is that nobody is left behind.”

Organizers expect approximately 70 cyclists to participate in the sold-out event, while an additional 30 community members plan to attend via Metro Bus 662.

The ride features designated marshals in yellow vests, walkie-talkie communication systems, scheduled regroup locations, and mechanical support for cyclists experiencing technical difficulties.

Participants are encouraged to decorate their bikes with elaborate lighting displays and don festive attire, including holiday sweaters and illuminated necklaces for the nighttime journey.

“One of our volunteers pulls a trailer that has a disco ball and a speaker, and there’s a holiday playlist, which makes it very festive,” Schiller explained.

Participants will depart Memorial Park at 5:30 p.m. following a safety briefing, later securing their bikes to enjoy the festival’s food trucks and crafts.

“We work for change and we also like to have fun riding a bike, especially in a group. But riding a bike under any circumstances is one of the most fun things there is, so we like to celebrate and then we make new friends,” Schiller said.

The event requires bike lights for all participants, with limited loaners available, and mandates helmets for riders under 18 while recommending them for all participants.

The ride is not suitable for cyclists under 12 or inexperienced riders, said the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, which is committed to safety during the nighttime adventure.