When I got my first "adult" bike it had been a good 20 years since I'd last ridden. I was afraid to shift, and could barely steer and brake and stay upright -- it required full concentration. Until you feel comfortable on the bike, and it happens pretty quickly really, platform pedals can remove at least one source of anxiety.

klr, you're making me homesick. I'm from Pasadena and moved north about 10 years ago, and then started cycling. But I did learn to drive in the Rose Bowl parking lot! That's a beautiful area to ride in (not the parking lot, but the Arroyo Seco area).