Category Archives: #WeLoveSantaMonica

Gearing up 2024: May is Bike Month!

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MAY: NATIONAL BIKE MONTH

Click the “Bike Month” drop down on the menu bar for more info and where we keep the updated list of participating businesses and specials.  
Click HERE to view where events are added in the May Bike Month calendar

Click here to view #BikeMonthSM Map
– events being added

Click HERE to Sign Up to host a Pitstop, event, special or promotion in Santa Monica during Bike Month!

Have questions? Email us at BikeMonth@SMSpoke.org

TheLEAGUE-BikeMonth
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May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the  League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling” and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.

WITH SO MANY REASONS TO RIDE, WHAT’S YOURS?»

It’s a celebration of bikes; a reminder to get rolling again; a gateway to riding more often; a time to evangelize the beauty of bikes; and much, much more.

Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride. The momentum is building: With growing cultural awareness around health and wellness, sustainability and economic savings, bicycling is being seen by new and broader audiences as a simple solution to many complex problems, from reducing obesity rates to increasing mobility options. This year, we want to hear from you. What’s your why? With so many reasons to ride, what’s yours? Use the hashtags #WhyIRide and #BikeLocalSM #BikeMonthSM #GoSaMo on social media and also tag @SMSpoke @BikeLeague!

Each year the number and diversity of Bike Month celebrations continues to grow, accelerating the momentum around bicycling nationwide.

So much more – See our CALENDAR

Email Support Today for More Protected Bike Lanes and Safer Streets for Everyone!

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Council Meeting February 27th, Item 3B

Tuesday Feb 27th Santa Monica City Council will hear the City Manager Report – on the Bike Action Plan and a Vision Zero Update — Special Item 3B on the Agenda.

Please join us with an email to Council TODAY voicing your support for more protected bike lanes (support the Bike Action Plan Amendment) and to support our city’s commitment to Vision Zero — to protect vulnerable road users, like people walking and biking, with streets designed to be safer for everyone.

Easy one click email — please do add your comments and personal stories if you can!

Or use this “copy and paste / template”
send to:
gleam.davis@santamonica.gov, phil.brock@santamonica.gov, christine.parra@santamonica.gov, lana.negrete@santamonica.gov, jesse.zwick@santamonica.gov, Caroline.Torosis@santamonica.gov, oscar.delatorre@santamonica.gov, councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov, david.white@santamonica.gov, Anuj.Gupta@santamonica.gov, council@smgov.net,

bcc us at: info@SMSpoke.org

Re: Item 3B City Manager Report – Bike Action Plan and Vision Zero Update.

Dear Santa Monica Mayor, City Council and City Manager:

I support the City’s commitment to safer streets and more protected bike lanes. Please prioritize improving bike and pedestrian infrastructure and Vision Zero. The City must continue the overwhelming community supported commitment to prioritize and protect vulnerable road users, like people walking and biking, with more protected bike lanes and streets designed to be safer for everyone.

Please support and prioritize safer streets!

17th Street & Michigan Avenue Ribbon Cutting

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Where: 17th and Colorado (Metro lot)
Please join us Dec. 2nd at 9am to celebrate the completion of the newest addition to the Santa Monica protected bike network with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a morning full of free, family-friendly activities. Enjoy donuts, local musicians and performers, remarks from the Mayor, giveaways, and bike rides along the project.
See more about the event HERE!
Hope to see you there! 

Schedule:
9 a.m. Donuts, coffee and hot chocolate (while supplies last)
9:30 a.m.  Ribbon cutting ceremony

  Confirmed Speakers:

  • Mayor Gleam Davis
  • Director of Transportation Anuj Gupta
  • Chief of Police Ramon Batista
  • Santa Monica Spoke Director Cynthia Rose

10 a.m. Santa Monica High School Marching Band
11:15 a.m. Academia de Danza Ballet Folklorico Flor de Mayo
10 a.m. – noon Guided bike tours 

Keystone projects like this improve bike and pedestrian safety and promote sustainability to help combat climate change. The completion of the Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue project marks a milestone step towards advancing the city’s key strategic priority of fostering a Sustainable & Connected Community. In addition to promoting sustainability and multi-modal transportation, Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue advances the City’s commitment to a Clean and Safe Santa Monica, including the Vision Zero initiative, which is the goal of eliminating severe traffic injuries and deaths on city streets. This critical project builds upon community engagement and feedback including the adopted Bike Action Plan Protected Network Amendment, Pedestrian Action Plan, the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANGo) Plan, as well as the city’s Land Use and Circulation Element.
Click to see a list of more exciting Mobility Projects

Safer Streets item 16C Unanimously Approved

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Thank you Councilmember Zwick, Torosis and Mayor Davis for Agenda Item 16C presented on the November 14th City Council Agenda to strengthen Santa Monica’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminate all preventable fatal and severe-injury crashes from Santa Monica’s roads. This action came on the heels of the recent fatal crash on Idaho Ave. October 27th where 69 year old Tania Mooser — our neighbor, mother, sister and retired teacher — was struck and killed while riding her bicycle. Two weeks later another bicyclist was struck and injured at the same intersection.
See more info here on the agenda item HERE

Councilmember Zwick, Torosis and Mayor Davis
Public Testimony

Adjournment in honor of Tania Mooser

Upcoming Events: HandleBar Happy Hour & Film Screening

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Stay tuned for more events being planned soon!

August 24th:
Join us for HandleBar Happy Hour at Chez Jay

Chez Jay: 1657 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Celebrate #BikeLocalSM, our Buy Local SM businesses, happy hour + new friends at our monthly events! Learn about upcoming local bike events + find out about and connect with us at SM Spoke as we visit and introduce you to some of our Buy Local SM businesses.  
Eat Local, Drink Local, Buy Local AND Bike Local SM!

September 6th:
The Engine Inside: Film Screening and Panel Discussion at the Aero Theatre

For more click the here to see our calendar event. Sign up for Bike Valet
The Engine Inside follows six everyday people from vastly different worlds who dedicate their lives to a simple, 200-year-old machine. Their trials and tribulations reveal the bicycle’s unique power to change lives and help build a better world.

Covering many different global issues—from climate change and indigenous trauma to socio-economic inequality and more livable cities —The Engine Inside sparks hope and agency in everyone it touches.

Screening will be followed by a Live Panel Discussion with Jason Kligier, Mobility Manager at City of Santa Monica and Cynthia Rose, Director Santa Monica Spoke,
More Panelists to be added.
The panel will be moderated by Ferris Kawar, Sustainability Manager, Santa Monica College.

The event is FREE to ALL but you must register to attend
ADDED: Free Bike Valet will be provided.