Pasadena Street Safety Advocates Launch Free Book Club

The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition will guide participants through a transportation advocacy handbook to push for safer streets.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:39am

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The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, an all-volunteer group recognized by the mayor for promoting pedestrian safety, is launching a free Advocacy Book Club on February 22. The virtual sessions will guide participants through a new transportation advocacy handbook by a consultant who has worked on over 100 campaigns nationwide. The book club arrives as Pasadena pursues a goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2035.

Why it matters

Pasadena has seen a high number of injury crashes, with pedestrians accounting for a significant portion of those killed or seriously injured. The book club aims to empower residents to advocate for concrete changes like bike lanes, better bus service, and safer crosswalks to improve street safety.

The details

The book club will meet every other Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom, guiding participants through the 216-page 'If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy' by author Carter Lavin. The book teaches readers how to build coalitions, navigate political contexts, and win over decision-makers to achieve transportation reform.

  • The Advocacy Book Club will launch on February 22, 2026.
  • Subsequent sessions will continue every other Sunday through the book.

The players

Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition

An all-volunteer group officially recognized by Mayor Victor Gordo for promoting pedestrian safety in Pasadena.

Mayor Victor Gordo

The mayor of Pasadena who recognized the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition in an October 2025 proclamation designating 'Walktober' and Pedestrian Safety Month.

Carter Lavin

A climate and transportation activist based in Oakland who wrote the 'If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy' handbook that will be used in the book club.

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What they’re saying

“Meaningful change comes from persistence, organization, and a willingness to fight for better streets.”

— Sam Balto, Founder of Bike Bus World (Book endorsement)

“The book the transportation reform movement has been waiting for.”

— Kea Wilson, Streetsblog USA Senior Editor (Book review)

What’s next

The first Advocacy Book Club meeting is on February 22, 2026. Subsequent sessions will continue every other Sunday through the book.

The takeaway

The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition's free Advocacy Book Club provides residents with a structured way to learn effective strategies for advocating for safer streets and transportation reforms in their community, which is crucial as Pasadena works towards its goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2035.