Monthly Archives: November 2012

Community Workshop, It’s Your Downtown! Dec. 5th

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Please join us Wednesday, December 5th

to explore ways to make Downtown Santa Monica a better place for you and your family.

Wednesday, December 5th 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Civic Center, East Wing
1855 Main Street, Santa Monica

The City of Santa Monica invites you to attend the third community workshop for the Downtown Specific Plan. Come learn about how the Plan is shaping up and give them your feedback:
A brief presentation by City Staff and consultants Neal Payton of Torti Gallas & Partners will cover:

  • ·         WALKING AROUND: New ideas for enhancing the pedestrian experience and making the public realm more enjoyable, Ideas for creating a walkable and complete Downtown filled with great buildings, public spaces and exciting destinations for residents and visitors
  • ·         CONSERVATION AND OPPORTUNITY:  Identify areas for preservation and opportunities for change, Unique experiences, places and buildings that showcase what makes Downtown so special
  • ·         THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Concepts for new development standards based on what works in the Downtown and what doesn’t
We want to see:

Integrating bikes and bike parking, when and where will be our bike share stations?

Ask your questions – Give your input,
SEE YOU THERE!

RSVP to ensure accurate accommodations DowntownPlan@smgov.net or 310.458.8341

1st Santa Monica Bike Fest, December 8th, 10am – 2pm

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We join the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Safe Routes to School Program collaborative, Santa Monica Bike Center/Sustainable Streets, and  C.I.C.L.E. along with other event partners to organize a Family Bike Fest on Saturday, December 8 from 10 am to 2 pm. Santa Monica families are invited to attend this free event and enjoy fun and educational activities, see facebook event here

Some of the great activities include:

  • Youth Bike Skills Course
  • Meals on 2 Wheels, Family Fun Ride (approx. 3 miles) departs at 1:00pm
  • Bike Swap and Donation Station
  • Bike Check-Up Station
  • Tasty Food from Local Vendors, including Peddler’s Creamery, making ice cream by bike!
  • Family Bicycle Test Rides
  • Helmet and Bike Decoration Station
  • Bicycle Safety and Route Planning Information
  • Walking School Bus/Bike Train Booth
  • Snap Yourself Photo Booth
  • …and much more

Volunteer with us for the event! volunteer@SMSpoke.org We need help tabling and assisting with the Youth Bike Skills Course. For more volunteer opportunities see below.

Location: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St.
Time: Drop in any time from 10 am to 2 pm.
Cost: Free to the public

Parking: Free valet bike parking, or on-site garage parking (cost: $1/hour)

Event Partners: City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Safe Routes to School Program collaborative Santa Monica Bike Center/Sustainable Streets, SMMUSD PTA Council, C.I.C.L.E., Santa Monica Spoke,  Active Santa Monica, Santa Monica Community and Cultural Services

How can you help? Spread the word! Volunteer?!

We are reaching out to community members at this time for three reasons:
1. Please put the event on your calendar, and spread the word to friends and contacts! (Flyer here: http://bit.ly/UkNsB1)
2. We would like your suggestions about how to publicize the event. Do you manage any lists in which you could publicize this event? Are there any blogs, Facebook groups, local groups/leaders, or others that we should reach out to? If you could make use of a full-color poster or handbill flyers, just let us know and we’ll send you some.
3. We will also need volunteer help to pull off an event this big! We hope that you can consider volunteering, and help us find other potential volunteers. You can view volunteer shifts and sign up here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4793777317/eivtefrnd.
You can always contact us if you have any unanswered questions.

1st Anniversary Party Santa Monica Bike Center this weekend!

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First Anniversary Celebration for Santa Monica Bike Center

Friday, Saturday and Sunday
November 16th – 18th, 2012

The Santa Monica Bike Center is happy to announce it’s one year anniversary.  Please join us this weekend at any of the events listed below or simply stop by to say hello.
Stay tuned for some more celebrations coming soon!
Please also Save the Dates:
December 1st & 8th as we plan the anniversary of the Santa Monica Bike Action Plan and a Santa Monica Bike Festival!  ….Details will follow!

This weekend’s events:

Friday, November 16th, (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Members and visitors will enjoy lunchtime snacks from the Border Grill and vegan cupcakes from the kitchen of Ms. Cynthia Rose, aka Purple, (while supplies last). Can’t make it for lunch, then join us at 6 p.m. for a dinner ride led by SMBC staff to one of our favorite watering holes, Wurstkuche, where we’ll plow the froth and grab a bite to eat.

Wurstkuche address: 625 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291;
(213) 687-4444.

Saturday, November 17th, (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

SMBC Members and visitors are invited to the inaugural Santa Monica Sweet Spots tour. This 3 – 4 hour tour features a range of culinary sweets from local bakeries, ice cream shops and chocolatiers along an easy 10-mile route. This guided tour is free for members and guests, bring your own bike or rent one from SM Bike Center.  Helmets required for participants under the age of 18.

Sunday, November 18th, (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Join head mechanic Emily for a 5-hour 17-mile mountain bike adventure.  The ride will feature a long steep climb to a spectacular view of the Santa Monica Bay, followed by a thrilling descent back to SMBC, so please be prepared for a non-technical, highly aerobic ride that will burn off some pre-Thanksgiving calories.  Mountain biking experience is recommended.  Bring your own off-road bike or rent one from the SM Bike Center, and don’t forget to bring water and snacks!

PEDAL POWER, OH YEAH!

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Just a little fun for the day!
This infographic looks at the amount of energy an average cyclist, an athletic cyclist and a professional cyclist can generate and what appliances and gadgets in our homes they can power.

Image source: MoneySupermarket

Let’s Talk Santa Monica, Nov 10, 12 & 15th

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PLEASE consider attending one (or more) of these sessions with City Staff and Santa Monica’s City Manager Rod Gould. It is a unique and up close opportunity to give input for bikes and the Bike Action Plan (BAP) directly. The City needs to hear from you what the positives are for the infrastructure that has gone in so far and what we need to see in the future. For instance, new buffered bike lanes, Sharrows, bike corrals and racks.  This is especially important as some have been “loudly vocal” in opposition of new bike lanes even though we have received near 100% positive feedback from cyclists and others in the community. We need you to share your positive feedback with the City directly!
Please share this far and wide – We look forward to seeing you soon!
Cynthia Rose
Director
Santa Monica Spoke

Santa Monica Talks

Let’s talk about what’s happening in Santa Monica. Join us to meet City staff, make connections, learn about City services and finances, see what’s happening in your neighborhood and citywide, share your thoughts, and ask questions.

The same information will be provided at each meeting. Please attend the session that is most convenient for you. Drop in or stay for the entire time. Staff will be available during the first and last 45 minutes of each session for informal conversations. Rod Gould, City Manager, will talk about the City’s fiscal health, ongoing services, upcoming projects, and answer your questions. These conversations will inform the development of the City’s fiscal year 13-15 budget. Neighborhood association representatives will also be present.

Childcare, bike valets, and BBB vouchers will be available. A light dinner will be provided at the two evening meetings. RSVPs will help us meet child care needs and order food accordingly. Hope to see you at one of the upcoming meetings!

All locations are wheelchair accessible. For additional disability-related accommodations please call (310) 458-8301.

Stop by to connect with City staff, share your thoughts, see what’s happening in your neighborhood and citywide, and learn about City services and finances.

 

Saturday, November 10, 
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
City Manager’s presentation, 10:45am
Franklin Elementary School, 2400 Montana Avenue

Monday, November 12,
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
City Manager’s presentation, 7:15 pm
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,
East Wing, 1855 Main Street

Thursday, November 15,
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm,
*simultaneous Spanish translation
City Manager’s presentation – 7:15 pm
The Writers Boot Camp, Bldg. I,
2525 Michigan Avenue

 

Participants can meet one-on-one with staff to discuss specific issues related to public safety, transportation, parking, planning, housing, human services, community spaces and programs, technology, sustainability, and “Be Excited! Be Prepared” capital improvement projects. Following the one-on-one dialogues City Manager Rod Gould will give a presentation about City services, finances, and projects and answer questions from the audience. After the presentation, City staff will again be available again to meet one-on-one with residents.

Comment forms and meeting materials are available online at: www.smgov.net/smtalks.
Although the meetings are free and open to all, please RSVP online at www.smgov.net/smtalks.

Additionally:
If you cannot attend but would like to give feedback on BAP, bike lanes etc. please email to BAP@SMSpoke.org –
This address sends copies of your email to us and forwards a copy directly to the City.