Pasadena Pedals Through May With Architecture Tours, a Mountain Biking Film, and Free Rides for All

A guided bike tour of Greene & Greene Craftsman homes. A 20th-anniversary screening of the documentary that launched mountain biking into the cultural mainstream. A Saturday morning class where kids learn to ride by balancing first, pedaling second. These are not separate programs per se — they are all part of Pasadena Bike Month 2026, which runs throughout the full month of May with more than a dozen free events for riders at every skill level.

The City of Pasadena Department of Transportation and community partners Day One and Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition organized the programming, which spans every weekend from May 2 through May 31, according to a city press release. The schedule pairs beginner-friendly rides with cultural excursions — a combination that transportation director Joaquin T. Siques said reflects the city’s broader ambitions for cycling.

“The City is pleased to once again support Bike Month, which is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to see, hear, taste, and feel all that Pasadena has to offer while riding a bicycle,” Siques said in a statement.

The month opens May 2 with a Bike Tour of New and Old Murals, departing from the Pacific Asia Museum parking lot at 46 N. Los Robles Ave. at 9:30 a.m. Corey Dunlap, a Pasadena resident and senior manager of public art for LA Metro who is also part of the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, will lead the ride through the city’s street art, according to the city.

Riders who have never clipped into a pedal — or even owned a bike — have a place too. A Beginner’s Bagel Ride on May 9 leaves from Caltech at 9 a.m. for a slow-paced loop through city streets, with bagels included. On May 24, certified instructors at Robinson Park will teach children the balance-first method of learning to ride. Space is limited, and pre-registration is encouraged, according to the city.

The month’s cultural centerpiece arrives May 21, when the Jefferson Branch Library screens Klunkerz, the 2006 documentary about the origins of mountain biking on the trails of Marin County. Director William Savage will attend for a live question-and-answer session. The screening marks the film’s 20th anniversary.

For residents curious about electric bikes, a virtual lunchtime presentation on May 19 will feature CalBike Policy Director Jared Sanchez and Day One Active Transportation Director Colin Bogart discussing current California e-bike legislation, according to the city press release. The third annual Pasadena E-bike Expo follows on May 24 at Rose Bowl Area H, where local bike shops will offer test rides from 2 to 4 p.m.

Siques said the expo and education events are part of a broader partnership. “This year, we’re excited to include an E-bike Expo for the third time as well as bike education events and family-oriented rides in partnership with the Pasadena Public Library and the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department,” he said.

Other highlights include Bike to Work Day on May 14, with a rest stop at Pasadena City Hall from 7 to 9:30 a.m.; the Tour de Allee on May 16, which routes riders through 13 alleys across the city; and the Greene & Greene Architecture Bike Tour on May 17, departing the Gamble House Bookstore at 9 a.m. The month closes May 31 with the Ice Cream Ride, a returning favorite whose location will be posted online.

All events are free. Helmets are required for riders under 18 and recommended for all ages. Some events require reservations. A full schedule and registration details are available at bit.ly/PasadenaBikeMonth. For more information, contact Melody Wu, associate planner, at mwu@cityofpasadena.net.

Day One is a Pasadena-based nonprofit focused on public health and active transportation. The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition is an all-volunteer organization that advocates for safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.