Monthly Archives: April 2009

Spoke: The Second Meeting

The Second Meeting of SPOKE courtesy of Bikerowave: It will take place Tu 28 April 7:00 pm. Come at 6:30 for some food, and lets get this started.

History:
First the local school district has adopted a substantial bikefriendly resolution,
Then comes Roger and involves city community services in a serious discussion of how to encourage cycling in the SM with group rides and safe cycling education.

It seems the time is right for a new bicycle challenge in Santa Monica. SM SPOKE wants to create system which allows small-scale grass roots work to make SM the bicycle perfect city it wants to be. Who else is going to do it for us? And the mother ship, LACBC, will help us to get there.

Agenda: Discuss Agenda for Public Meeting scheduled for Tu 19 May 6:30 at SM Library, outside parking area

Advertising the first public meeting in May: Bikerowave, Bike Hangers, Blogs (Bikedatesantamonica, Cyclesantamonica, Gary Rides Bikes, Green LA Girl etc), SM Daily Press, advertise at Bike-to-Work pit-stops at REI & City Hall, Samohi Cyclists, current LACBC membership, SM Critical Mass, etc

Governance: Electing Officers (Chair or Board elected by Committee Chairs) Committee chairs are created when minimum 2 (3?) members committed to work on the area of the committee come forward and nominate their chairman. Committees are dissolved when no work is done for more than 3 months. Determination of dormant work is done by three other committees. Dissolution of Committee removes voting right from Committee Chair

Electing LACBC relationship officer (to attend LACBC board meetings 3x pa)

Potential areas of committee work: (An even longer list is here)
Lincoln Blvd is not a Bike Lane, Euclid, PCH, Police Liaison, Emergency Services Liaison, Community Rides Liaison, Senior Cycling Committee, SMMUSD liaison, Private school liaison (Crossroads, Santa Monica Catholic School(Javier (Maintenance); Tara, Secretary to Tom Gaspar)), UCLA Relations committee, Santa Monica College committee, Religious Communities Liaison, Transport Demand Management (Colefax), Relations, Beach Path Safety, Paint work committee, Bicycle friendly employer committee, Website committee (replace this blog…), Fundraising committee, By-Laws committee, Membership Recruitment Committee, Print design committee, Media relations committee, Video Work Committee, Mapping Committee, Medical profession committee, Bikeshop relations committee, Volunteer force committee, SM Bicycle Fair & Swapmeet Committee, Bicycle Block Parties, Annual Bike Fair Committee, Bike to Work Week Committee, Teach Cycling at Nursery Committee, Bicicletta Italiana, Ciclovia CicLAvia, Neigborhood Organisations Relations Committee (Wilmont Between Wilshire and Montana, Pico, Ocean Park), Bike parking committee (Supermarkets, Employers, Schools), I -10 committee (7th Street Bridge Committee, Bridge Decoration Committee) ETC

Santa Monica Community Cycling

April 2nd 2009: We have a meeting initiated by Roger Swanson with Santa Monica Community Services to discuss a response to the aggressive policing during Critical Mass Rides. Read all about it here. The main thesis was: Group rides are a unique tool to allow a reluctant and timid cyclist to increase his/her cycling abilities. They are a valuable form of bicycle encouragement. Support and sponsorship of city wanted. The city implement its bicycle friendly policy by providing bicycle education and organize, co-organize, support and sponsor group rides in the community.