Horace Dobbins

Dobbins in an automobile, early 1900s

Horace Dobbins (August 29, 1868–September 21, 1962) ^[1] was a Philadelphia-born businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Pasadena, California, United States in 1900-1901.

Horace Dobbins was known for building the California Cycleway from Pasadena to Los Angeles.^[2] Horace Dobbins had the exclusive idea of incorporating a bicycle tollway from the Green Hotel in Pasadena to Los Angeles. This idea was brought to mind on 23 August 1897. Unfortunately, the innovation came to a halt once the invention of the automobile had come around. Although the Cycleway stopped being used, its path was transformed into what is now the Arroyo Seco/Pasadena Freeway.^[3]

It was during the cycle craze that Dobbins was elected mayor of Pasadena. Dobbins was also one of the founders of what would become Pasadena's Huntington Memorial Hospital. Following the failure of the cycleway, Dobbins turned to other pursuits, including the refurbishment of Los Angeles' Agricultural Park (now Exposition Park), management of a hotel of in Philadelphia, and the design and sailing of yachts. ^[1]

References

1. Charles P. Hobbs (2014). Hidden History of Transportation in Los Angeles. The History Press. ISBN 9781626196711.
2. Erdman, Anna. "Mystery History Solved". Pasadena P.I.O. Blog. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
3. "The Dobbins Veloway". The Arroyo Seco Bikeway. Retrieved 17 August 2012.

External links

• "Horace Dobbin's Cycleway". California Cycleways. Retrieved 27 July 2010.