Category Archives: Bike Infrastructure

Silver Level Bike Friendly Community designation!

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Santa Monica moves up to Silver Level in Bike Friendly Communities
and named 5th Most Bikeable City in U.S

During all the celebrations of National Bike Month and to kick off Bike to Work Week, the League of American Bicyclists announced its latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC). The City of Santa Monica has been awarded national recognition of our local efforts by raising our ranking from Bronze to Silver level. At the same time Walk Score, a national organization devoted to promoting walkable neighborhoods, ranked Santa Monica at #5 on its Bike Score list of Top 100 most bikeable cities.

The Bicycle Friendly Community “Silver” award will be presented to Mayor Pam O’Connor by our own Jennifer Klausner, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition on Wednesday, May 15th at 5pm in the courtyard behind Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica.  Before the award presentation you are invited to join us and SM City staff on a bicycle tour highlighting new bicycle facilities during Bike Week. Cyclists are invited to gather for the ride at 3:30pm in the courtyard behind City Hall.  We roll out at 4pm to return by 5pm for the award ceremony. After the ceremony you are in invited to join us for a Handlebar Happy Hour Celebration at West 4th & Jane.

“The Bicycle Friendly Community Silver award is presented only to communities with remarkable commitments to bicycling. You should be very proud of this accomplishment,” wrote Nicole Wynands, Program Manager for the League of American Bicyclists.

The City earned an impressive 83 Bike Score from Walk Score. This rating is derived from a data set that includes infrastructure, hilly terrain, numbers of bikers on streets and more.

“Santa Monica has embraced bicycling as one of the most important strategies to help achieve its environmental, economic and quality of life goals and adopted an award-winning Bike Action Plan in November 2011.  Since then, the City has invested heavily in bicycling, in both programs: education, events, awareness, enforcement, –and facilities: parking, lanes, sharrows, and signal detection” quoted the press release by Lucy Dyke, Planning & Community Development.

For more information on Bike Week Events and bicycling in Santa Monica:
Bike Month Santa Monica, SM Spoke
Bike Santa Monica, SM City

For more information on Bicycle Friendly Communities:
http://www.bikeleague.org/

For more information on Bike Score:
http://blog.walkscore.com/2013/05/bike-score-expands-to-100-cities/

Wednesday Events: Guided Ride and Special Recognition Ceremony :)

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Come see why bicycling is on the rise in Santa Monica since the City Council adopted its Bike IMG_0491-SQAction Plan in 2011. Enjoy a group ride on new facilities — green bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, signal detection and sharrows. Then participate in recognition ceremony as we receive our new BFC designation, Santa Monica is now Silver Level

Our ride will begin and end in the courtyard behind Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street. The event is co-hosted by Santa Monica Spoke and the City of Santa Monica.

Courtyard behind SM City Hall at 3:30 pm roll out at 4:00 pm.
Press event follows in front of City Hall
5:00pm

As if that was not enough after the ceremony you can take a tour of the Santa Monica Bike Center after which:
We invite you to join us for a Celebratory Handlebar Happy Hour Event

image
Location :    West 4th and Jane
Address:      1432A 4th Street (between Broadway & Santa Monica Blvd)
Time:           6:00 pm till ……when ever
Date:           May 15th

As always, please enjoy the event and ride responsibly

Bike to Work Week, May 13th-19th

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There are lots of events and rides planned for Bike Week sponsored by Metro here in Los Angeles County, and LOTS of special events planned here in Santa Monica!

We love bicycling as a GREAT way to travel around our neighborhoods, Wether we are riding to work, school, run errands or recreation, it is a fun, healthier way to travel – especially with new bicycle lanes and paths appearing all across Los Angeles County.  Bike with us at as we lead the Bike Week events here in Santa Monica (and all others over LA County) this week and see how easy it can be!

Pledge here to ride your bike on Bike to Work Day and you could win a new bicycle from REI and other great prizes!

Click on the day of the week to see a list of local participants and events here in Santa Monica.

These pages will be updated as events are confirmed, added or sent in from you all to post.

Your input on Bike Parking in Santa Monica?

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We are working with the City of Santa Monica to mark out places to install bike racks. This next quantity of racks (approx. 150) will be installed sometime before June and is part of the ongoing addition of bike parking in the City of Santa Monica. Not included in this number is the installation of several more bike corrals! You may also submit your input on where you think bike corrals could be installed.
We are working from a list of requested bike rack locations submitted to the City as well as locations previously marked by staff.
Your added input on where we need parking can help us get parking where you want it and where you think it is needed most.

Send your input to BikePlan@SMSpoke.org

Bike Rack

Santa Monica High School Improvements for Safe Routes to School

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Santa Monica High School Improvements for walking, biking and Safe Routes to School

March 11, 2013, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Civic Center Auditorium

SRTS Santa MonicaPlease join us for a discussion on improving the area around Samohi to encourage more walking and biking. Good for kids – good for the community!

Light snacks will be served.
Bike Parking will be provided.
Big Blue Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9

Civic Center Auditorium
1855 Main St., (access parking through Main St.)

RSVP and Questions: Michelle Glickert at michelle.glickert@smgov.net or call 310.458.2204

Saturday Feb 9th! Find out what’s up – CELEBRATE BIKES

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A full day: Food, Fun, Info, Music and Ice Cream?!IMG_0491-SQ
- Bike Action Plan Review and Forecast 2013
- New Project Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway
- Bike Parade to Grand Opening Ocean Park Blvd
Complete Green Street!

We’ve been hard at work coordinating this fun and informative bikey day! There will be lots of information to engage you while you have FUN and ENJOY the day with us. We need your input and support so COME OUT AND PLAY THIS SATURDAY!

Doors open at 11:00 with coffee and cinnamon rolls and lively discussion on our Bike Action Plan & exciting new projects.
At 12:00pm the pizza arrives and we get a very special presentation on our next big proposed project “The Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway”
At 1:30 we hop on our bikes for a bike parade over to the Grand Opening Party for the Ocean Park Blvd Complete Green Street at 2:00pm

sm_meet

Colorado Community Room,
502 Colorado,
Bike parking in the patio

 

 Program:

11:00am      Doors open with coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls

Lets go for Platinum!

Lets go for Platinum!

11:15am       We are excited to once again have Lucy Dyke and City staff give us a review of the wonderful new bike projects and lanes stripped in 2012 and feedback and input from us as we look forward to what you want to see prioritized in 2013!
We have invited Santa Monica’s newest SMPD Bike liaison to be with us to participate and be available for discussions.
12:00pm      Pizza!
12:15pm      Settle in to hear about our exciting Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway! Jason Kligier will give us an over view on the ideas and potentials of AWESOME project and how we can help make it happen!
1:15pm        WE JUMP ON BIKES AND ROLL OUT AT 1:30pm. It’s time for the bike parade to the Grand Opening of the Ocean Park Blvd Complete Green Street, and beautiful GREEN BIKE LANES!.
2:00pm       We arrive at the Ocean Park Blvd Complete Green Street Grand Opening where we will celebrate and be treated to live jazz music and ice cream from the Peddlers Creamery. Ocean Park Blvd between 5th & 6th (in front of SMASH/John Muir Schools)

Free Bike Valet provided by the City of Santa Monica.

OPASTREET

michigan_bike_map

Venice NC Meeting: More Venice Area Bike Lanes?

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The Venice Neighbor Council will be considering bike lanes and back-in angled parking along Venice Way, Grand Avenue, Market Street and Windward Avenue. Those streets that are currently 4 lanes would get road diets to make room for bikes and additional parking. We join LACBC to help build out the bike network at the southern end of the new Main Street bike lanes. We hope folks will show up and express their support for the project.

Date:       Tuesday, January 22nd
Time:       7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where:    Westminster Elementary School Auditorium, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice (map)


Bike lanes on Main Street from Navy to Windward Circle, extended the Santa Monica bike lanes and road diet into Venice.

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

Santa Monica Pier Open House, 10/27

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click image for flyer

Please join us this Saturday at an Open House for the Santa Monica Pier. THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS

Saturday October 27th, 10am -2pm 

° Free Carousel Rides, Food, Music
° Guided Tours of the Pier (every 1/2 hr) 
° History Presentations 10:15,11:15, 12:15, & 1:15
° Opportunity to record your stories & wishes for the Pier
° Focus Groups & Surveys to get opinions (every 1/2 hr)
° Info on City projects around the the Pier and downtown Santa Monica
° Learn about Heal the Bay and it’s Aquarium at the Pier, Pier Business and more
° Complimentary Bike Valet

Presented by the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Pier Corporation. You can also let the City know your thoughts about the Pier and it’s future at SantaMonicaTownHall.org

Click for Guided Tour Map