Picked up a map of Eaton Canyon Natural Area while walking my dogs.  As we know, bike riding is prohibited there, and I can live with that because this is a limited area with a lot of hikers.  It is specifically noted that this includes the "horse trail" that connects to the Toll Road from Walnut Canyon.  This map shows the entire trail being inside the park.  I am ok with that too, although horses produce obvious damage when the trail is wet.  Right now, it is deeply rutted from the rains.  I know some of us ride down it from Henninger, I think it would be better to set a good example and just rip down the road.

One of the consequences of this policy is that it prevents connecting the ACT with Pasadena's planned bike path down the Eaton Wash, although there is a nice wide dirt road through the park where bikes would not be a problem.  Between the Natural Area and the ACT/Toll Road is sort of a no-man's land belonging to the city.  On at least one map I have seen a proposed (city) bike path leading to the Natural Area.  This is unlikely to be built unless it can connect through the Natural Area.  Even as a dead end, it would be good for us because bikes can only be ridden on Class A paths in Pasadena, and the current dirt road does not qualify (thus the NO BIKES sign where the dirt road connects to the Toll Road at the bridge).  Altadena drive is a bike route, but you can't get to it from the ACT unless the Pinecrest gate is open (or you backtrack).

On the other side of town, it would be an obvious move to have a Class A Bike Path built on the existing utility road that goes all the way to the paved road going to the JPL parking lots on the east side of Hahamongna Park.  Instead, we are expected to ride out of the Arroyo and use the streets on the east side up to Windsor/Ventura or use the path on the west side and go back across the Arroyo on a proposed bridge and path that will connect to the upper Arroyo.  I think there is still some opposition to that bike path because the city wants to cut down some trees and might have a secret plan to build a road there, and we might scare the horses, and the roadies will make it a racing loop if it connects to the paved road and.....

Lest this be a entirely futile rant I will rewrite the points and send to some politicians and bureaucrats.