Category Archives: Open Street Event

Action Alert: Support Pedestrian Pilot on Main Street

June 8th Council Meeting 

This Tuesday, Santa Monica City Council is expected to vote on final approval of the pilot program for temporary weekend street closures for vehicular traffic for a few weekends this summer on Main Street. In other cities programs like this have proven to reduce car use, support local businesses, and increase walking and biking. Santa Monica City Council needs to hear from you – share your support for a more sustainable, walkable, and vibrant Santa Monica! We want Santa Monica to be a great place for residents, workers, students and visitors of all ages to safely walk, bike, and scoot. As we emerge out of the pandemic, finding creative ways like this to support healthy active mobility and our local businesses by providing more outdoor experiences is critical for our community wellbeing and our economic recovery. 

We know you may have previously sent an email or submitted a survey but we need you to help demonstrate support to Council this evening with a short note to ensure that Item 7-A is approved. Click and customize the template below.

Santa Monica Spoke enthusiastically supports the Main Street Buisness Improvement District and the Ocean Park Neighborhood Association pilot. Other cities in the US and around the world have long been discovering the economic and safety benefits of slow and shared streets for safer, more equitable and sustainable mobility, for people walking, biking, scooting and driving. We have the data, we know that prioritizing people over cars makes streets safer for everyone, improves gridlock, is better for the environment, and indeed improves the experience of mobility regardless of mode. By providing safer and healthier options that encourage more people to leave their cars behind and explore the city, we improve safety, climate impacts, economic and environmental resilience, and vitality for our future. 

This item will be heard tomorrow at the Tuesday, June 8th council meeting.
Please send a quick note of support on Item 7-A, pilot program for weekend closures on Main Street, to the members of City Council* — template and email addresses listed below.
*preferably by noon on Tuesday June 8th

Example from Santa Barbara 

Template: Please personalize as you like

To: councilmtgitems@smgov.net, sue.himmelrich@smgov.net, kristin.mccowan@smgov.net, phil.brock@smgov.net, gleam.davis@smgov.net, oscar.delatorre@smgov.net, Kevin.McKeown@smgov.net, christine.parra@smgov.net

Dear Mayor and Santa Monica City Council,

As a Santa Monica resident, I support the pilot to pedestrianize Main Street for a few weekends this summer and hope you will consider making it permanent. Pedestrianized streets are more vibrant and encourage people to visit by foot, bicycle or scooter and leave their car at home. Pedestrian streets improve the visitor experience, encourage people to stay and bring in more customers to shops and restaurants. Streets that are pedestrianized are much more relaxing and enjoyable to visit and eat outdoors than a street with the noise and pollution of car traffic.

I very much support this program and ask that you vote to approve of the pilot on Main Street!

COAST is This Sunday, September 15th!

Don’t forget Kidical Mass(ive) Saturday! Global bike ride for the entire family, kids to seniors! Join us at Clover Park starting at 9am!

Sunday is COAST: Santa Monica Open Streets Celebration!!

Come visit our activation on Ocean Ave, just north of the Santa Monica Pier!
We will have lots of FREE fun activities including:
• Free Youth Small Wheels Skills Course! – bring your wheels or borrow one of our bikes
• Bike Safety Checks – air pump, minor repairs!
• Helmet Decorating – always fun!
•. #BikeLocalSM #BuyLocalSM backpack coloring!
• Suffragette Sash Decorating! – with League of Women Voters Santa Monica
•. Sign up to win 1 of 2 FREE Huffy Cruisers!!

On September 15, everyone is invited to this free city celebration of a more people-powered and sustainable Santa Monica where they can showcase their favorite real or imaginary car-free way of getting around. In addition to the two miles of car-free streets filled with roaming musicians, hands-on activities and an assortment of participatory classes, the event will be a pageant of attendees’ creativity.
See more on the event page HERE

WHERE: The event will be held on more than two miles of car-free streets in and around Downtown Santa Monica, including Ocean Ave. from Wilshire Blvd. to Colorado Ave., Colorado Esplanade from 5th St. to and including the Pier, and Main St. from Colorado Ave. to Pier Ave.

Summer Soulstice Open Street Festival is a week away!

19th Annual Main Street Santa Monica Summer SOULstice Festival 

Bringing SOUL to the street for Santa Monica’s only mile-long music festival on Sunday, June 23!

Presented by the Main Street Business Improvement Association, the 19th Annual Summer Soulstice Festival will feature 6 stages and showcase Main Street businesses along with over 100 local vendors, activation sites for all ages including rock star pet party and kid’s stage, 7 satellite bars and car-free streets spanning one mile long!
Benefiting Heal the Bay and Santa Monica Spoke!

For all the latest info stay update:
FACEBOOK: HERE
EVENTBRITE: HERE
WEBSITE: HERE

19th Annual Summer Soulstice Festival is June 23rd!

19th Annual Main Street Santa Monica Summer SOULstice Festival  – Let the countdown begin!

Bringing SOUL to the street for Santa Monica’s only mile-long music festival on Sunday, June 23! Entertainment and fun for the entire family!

Presented by the Main Street Business Improvement Association, the 19th Annual Summer Soulstice Festival will feature 6 stages and showcase Main Street businesses along with over 100 local vendors, activation sites for all ages including rock star pet party and kid’s stage, 7 satellite bars and car-free streets spanning one mile long!
Benefiting Heal the Bay and Santa Monica Spoke!

For all the latest info stay update:
FACEBOOK: HERE
EVENTBRITE: HERE
WEBSITE: HERE

CicLAvia returns to the Westside March 3rd!

In just over a week CicLAvia will kick off their 2019 season with Culver City Meets Mar Vista + Palms!

New to CicLAvia? Here are some things you need to know for March 3rd:

  • CicLAvia is FREE!
  • CicLAvia lasts from 9 AM until 4 PM
  • CicLAvia closes streets to car traffic and opens them for people to walk, skate, bike, play, and explore parts of Los Angeles County.
  • CicLAvia is not a race! There’s no starting point or finish line – begin where you like and enjoy the day your way.
  • CicLAvia traffic flows in two directions, just like regular traffic. Check out some more safety tips here.
  • To download a copy of the route map, click here.

EVENT INFO

Slow, Safe + Steady

Help keep CicLAvia safe and enjoyable by getting to know the rules of the route.

Click image to download