Category Archives: Santa Monica

Thursday, June 13th: Global cyclist comes to town

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Traveling at the Speed of Life: Author Presentation

The tragedy on September 11, 2001 killed many and hurt many more. Author and Speaker, David Sylvester, tried to make sense of that senseless moment by jumping on his bicycle and connecting with people. Ten years, 33 states and 21 countries later David has evolved from being just a guy with a dead friend into a cross-continental bicyclist/motivator/filmmaker//author that’s adopted a life mission to meet, hug, high5, motivate and inspire as many people around the planet as he can. His message to the people he met across hundreds of miles and three continents was simple: “Find your bike.” It translates to finding your passion and now, ten years later, after pedaling across deserts, down dirt roads and highways, and over the mountains of Africa, Asia, and North America, David spreads his inspirational message on the pages of this book. Whether relaying stories of tragedy or triumph David writes with a degree of honesty, humor and passion that will make you want to ‘find your own bike’ and go for a ride. Please join us to hear inspirational stories from his book,  Traveling at the Speed of Life

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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/

Safe Routes to School Improvements for Santa Monica High School – workshop

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May 22nd

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The City of Santa Monica invites us to the second Santa Monica High School Safe Routes to School workshop, where we can help prioritize concept improvements for the school area that will encourage more biking and walking to and from school. These concepts will also help provide connections and shape improvements connected to the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway Campaign.

Join us on Wednesday, May 22nd at either
Samohi starting at 3:15-4:30PM or
Ken Edwards Center 6:30-8:00PM

3:15-4:30PM – Santa Monica High School — 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90401
Enter from Michigan and 7th gate, or 4th and Civic Center gate. RSVP for more details. Please park in the Civic Center Parking Structure, validation available. Big Blue Bus Routes 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 serve Samohi, 1 and 8 two block walk.

6:30-8:00PM – Ken Edwards Center — 1527 4th St., Santa Monica 90401
Some auto and bike parking is available on site and in public parking structures along 4th Street. Big Blue Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9serve Ken Edwards Center.

The discussion will be on potential concept designs to help address the issues identified in the first workshop held in March.  The concepts include better pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks, new bike lanes, cycle tracks, and more bike racks for the school.

Your input is needed for this important Santa Monica planning effort.  If you haven’t already, please RSVP to ensure accurate accommodations.
Light snacks will be served.

RSVP and Questions: Michelle Glickert at michelle.glickert@smgov.net or call 310.458.2204
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Big Blue Bus Routes 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 serve Samohi,  1 and 8 two block walk
Big Blue Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 serve Ken Edwards Center
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Esto es una noticia sobre talleres para planear rutas seguras a la escuela secundaria de Santa Mónica (Samohi).  Para mas informacion llame a Peter James all numero 310.458.8341.

Save the date: June 1st Santa Monica Festival

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Santa Monica Spoke’s 3rd Annual Bike Exhibition at the
Santa Monica Festival

Plus lots more – stay tuned for more info on our events at the festival.
Don’t miss the 22nd annual Santa Monica Festival! Experience an eclectic mix of live music and dance, DIY art workshops with recycled and repurposed materials, guilt-free shopping featuring earth-friendly artistic wares and local services offered by City, environmental and local non-profit organizations. The Festival is a celebration with a purpose, highlighting the dynamic connection between the City’s communities, businesses, art, culture and the environment while offering ideas and options for a greener, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

Supporting the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy in Santa Monica.
SM Festival

Join us for the 2013 National Bike Challenge

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Join Santa Monica Spoke, local business and Santa Monica City Staff on Team Santa Monica Bike Center as we join together locally and compete in the 2013 National Bike Challenge.
Click the image above and join. Then navigate to leaderboard and click teams to find team Santa Monica Bike Center. Join the team and log your miles! The process is a bit muddled but hopefully worth it. We are currently in 7th place nationally for the month of May!!

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Thursday Bike to Work Day: Pit Stops and events

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Did you take the pledge? Pledge here to ride your bike on Bike to Work Day and you could win a new folding bike from REI and other great prizes!

If your ride is long or a full day at work makes it a challenge to pedal home, go multi-modal:
Big Blue Bus joins Metro (and other transit) to will offer FREE rides to bicyclists all day on May 16th  For other participating transit agencies all you need to ride for free is your bike or helmut   – however it seems you have to “print” a ticket for BBB? Find it here.

Santa Monica Bike to Work Pit Stops

Santa Monica Spoke & Co-Opportunity on 16th and Broadway to host a Bike to Work Pit Stop from 7am -9am.
You are also invited to join us for BIKE FROM WORK Handlebar Meet Up & Happy Hour, 5-9pm at Pono Burger, 829 Broadway.

City of Santa Monica, 6-9am, Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, there will be giveaways, continental breakfast, hot and cold beverages and gift packs for bikers, also lots of bicycling information. Santa Monica Spoke will be here too!

Santa Monica Bike Center, 1555 2nd Street (corner of 2nd and Colorado) Bike commuters can order a handmade peanut butter sandwich with a wide range of toppings to go with crunchy or creamy peanut butter.  They are also giving away gift cards from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, REI, Co-op, and Trader Joes.
Collin Myers of ABUS will be there from 8am – Noon talking about bike security, he will be giving away two locks during his security clinic.
Mike Ryan will be there doing video interviews with commuters on the topic of why they Love Their Commute!

REI Santa Monica, 6-10am, 402 Santa Monica Blvd, REI Santa Monica will join the community in supporting local cyclists with a pit stop. They’ll have a tech on hand if your bike needs a check up, snacks to keep you fueled up for your ride, and a raffle giveaway. Pledge to ride at www.metro.net/bikeweek and you could win an REI Novara Bike!

Helens Cycles,  7:30-10AM, 2501 Broadway, Free Bike safety checks, coupons, information, snacks and giveaways

DTLA Bicycles 10am -7pm, 700 Wilshire Blvd. Free safety checks and 10% off there entire purchase by mentioning “I Ride LA”

Santa Monica College, 9-11am, 1744 Pearl Street, Check out the new bike parking corral, Free parfaits, bagels, and cream cheese! Swing on by and enjoy some breakfast!

Crossroads School, 6:30-8:30am, 1731 20th Street (just south of Olympic Blvd), Cool water and snack bars

Yahoo, 8-10am, 2400 Broadway, Drinks, energy bars, bike route maps

Equity Office,  8-10am, 2400 Broadway, Refreshments, raffle for prizes, and protein bars

Water Garden, 8-10am, 2450 Colorado (in front of Subway), water, snacks, and bike information

Art Institute of California, Los Angeles, 9-11am, 31st and Ocean Park Blvd, Continental breakfast, water, and giveaways

Bergamot Bike-In Luncheon, 11:30-1:30pm, Pennsylvania Ave & 26th Street, $5.00 off area food trucks for the first 300 attendees, Helen’s Cycles will there to display various commuter bike options and share bike commuting advice

Golden Pedal Awards

It’s time again for the Golden Pedal Awards, Metro’s annual bicycle story competition! Do you or someone you know have a great story to tell about your bicycle commute? What do you love about bicycling to school or work? Tell us about your victories—whether it be the hills you conquer every morning, bicycling to school with your children, or your clever shortcut that lets you zip past traffic.
Enter here by May 19, 2013. We will be awarding reflective safety vests, a box of Clif Bars, and one year of bicycle roadside assistance from Better World Club to up to thirty (30) winners!

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

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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

Tuesday Events: Morning Lady’s Choice, Sunset Ride of Silence

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Take your bike to the 10th Annual Blessing of the Bicycles.

CAFFE BELLOMorning event – Lady’s choice - a ride to coffee, tea, networking? We can explore the benefits, challenges and shared experiences as women on bikes. Non-gender specific – all are invited  - but lady’s choice on ride and topics.
Meet up location for morning beverage and conversation at Cafe Bello 7:30am, 1912 Broadway

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Sunset Memorial Ride of Silence – in honor of the injured and killed cyclist. The ride is conducted in silence. This will be the 10th year of this international event and will be one of multiple Rides of Silence across LA.

Meet in front of Santa Monica City Hall at 6:30pm – roll at 7:00pmSanta Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street
We’ll conclude the ride at Casa Martin Mexican Restaurant, 1654 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401. Casa Martin is supporting bike month with 10% off during May when you arrive by bike.

 

Monday Events: Free Bike Checks

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Fix your bike day events

Helen’s Cycles, 26th and Broadway
Bicycle safety checks from 7:30AM – 10AM, coupon good for $25 off a basic tune-up. Same free safety checks and coupons on Thursday Bike to Work Day.

Cynergy – Santa Monica Blvd at Cloverfield
special deals and discounts for bike month

Santa Monica Bike Center, 2nd and Colorado
Free bike safety checks all week and $10 off tune ups, not including parts

Team Bike Attack, Main Street
Free Air and Oil, Free Quick Inspections from 10am – 7pm

Performance Bicycles – 5th and Broadway
Free safety checks through Monday 5?13 plus special deals and discounts for bike month

Zone3 Multisport, 3216 Santa Monica Blvd.,
Free inspections 1-5pm

 

 

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.