Test-Ride an E-Bike at the Rose Bowl This Sunday

If you have ever been curious about electric bicycles but never swung a leg over one, the Rose Bowl lawn is the place to be Sunday afternoon.

The City of Pasadena will host its third annual E-Bike Expo from 2 to 4 p.m. at Rose Bowl Area H, near the intersection of Rosemont Avenue and Seco Street in the 91103 zip code, where several local bike shops will set up for free test rides and demonstrations. The event is free and open to the public, according to the city’s event listing.

The expo has grown since its debut. In 2024, six Pasadena bike shops gathered at Jefferson Park for what the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition later described as the city’s first-ever e-bike showcase. Attendees tried a wide variety of electric bikes, including cargo and long-tail models designed for carrying children, according to the coalition’s recap of the event. The following year, seven shops moved the event to the Rose Bowl. This year’s edition returns to the same Rose Bowl location, according to the city’s Department of Transportation.

“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,” Joaquin T. Siques, director of the Pasadena Department of Transportation, said in a city press release.

The expo is one of 15 free events scheduled during Pasadena Bike Month, which runs through May 31, according to a city press release. The city organizes Bike Month with community partners Day One, a Pasadena-headquartered public health nonprofit, and the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, an all-volunteer group that advocates for safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders, according to the organizations’ websites. Organizers also held a virtual e-bike education session on May 19 featuring CalBike Policy Director Jared Sanchez and Day One Active Transportation Director Colin Bogart, according to the city press release.

“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 the press release.

Mayor Victor M. Gordo proclaimed May 2026 as Pasadena Bike Month on May 4, calling the bicycle “an economically and environmentally sustainable form of transportation,” according to the city’s proclamation. Last year, Bike Month drew 328 participants and 225 unique riders across 21 rides and events, up from 252 participants at 10 events in 2024, according to city records cited by Pasadena Now.

Helmets are required for riders under 18 and recommended for all ages. Loaner helmets will be available, according to event listings. Bikes should be in good working order.

The full schedule of Bike Month events and registration details is available at bit.ly/PasadenaBikeMonth. For more information, contact Melody Wu, associate planner, at mwu@cityofpasadena.net.