Category Archives: Press

Carmageddon, Great excuse to stay and Buy Local in Santa Monica, info from Metro and City of Santa Monica

Leave a reply

405 Freeway to be closed weekend of July 15-18

•Northbound I-405: 10-mile closure between I-10 and U.S. 101
•Southbound I-405: 4-mile closure between U.S. 101 and Getty Center Drive Ramps

All about the project: visit the Metro web site

FAQs for Santa Monica Residents & Visitors

FAQs for Santa Monica Businesses

Buy Local Button

Stay Local – Play Local – Bike Local

So the freeway’s closed – it will be a fantastic mid-summer weekend to stay local and enjoy your town.  Visit www.santamonica.com/405 for great specials and things to do!

45 things to do in Santa Monica

 

 

New bike itineraries:

Wellness tour of Santa Monica PDF Google Map
Sustainable Santa Monica Tour PDF Google Map
Vintage Santa Monica Shopping Tour PDF Google Map
An Artful Cruise through Santa Monica PDF Google Map

 

Free Bike Valets available during the weekend:

Free, secure, attended bike valet parking in convenient locations.  Valets in bold are available weekly.

Thursday evening, July 14
Twilight Dance Series Concert, Santa Monica Pier (Thursdays through September 8)
North side of the pier, east of the bike path against the pier
6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday evening, July 15
Main Street Business District
2900 block of Main Street, east side
5 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, July 16
Virginia Avenue Park – Pico Farmers Market
Off parking lot near Pico Blvd.
7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Downtown & Downtown Farmers Market
Arizona Ave between Third Street Promenade & 4th Street
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Santa Monica Pier
North side of the Pier, east of the bike path
Noon to 5 p.m.

Main St Business District
2900 block of Main Street, east side
Noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 17
Main Street Farmers Market
2640 Main Street at Heritage Square
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Downtown Santa Monica
Arizona Ave between Third Street Promenade & 4th Street
Noon to 5 p.m.

Santa Monica Pier
North side, east of the bike path against the pier
Noon to 5 p.m.

___________________________________________________________

If you’re heading out of Santa Monica July 15-18, plan your trip carefully! Ride your bike! The 405 Freeway will be closed for 53 hours in both directions between the I-10 and the U.S. 101 for planned demolition work on the Mulholland overpass. The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project, a joint effort between Metro and Caltrans, will add a 10-mile HOV lane and improve supporting infrastructure such as ramps, bridges and sound walls. This project will reduce existing and forecasted traffic congestion.
On Friday, July 15, ramps along the 10 mile closure will begin to shut down as early as 7 p.m., and closure of freeway lanes will begin at 10 p.m. to ensure full freeway closure by midnight. The closure will continue until 5 a.m. Monday morning, July 18. Ramps and connectors will be reopened by 6 a.m. During this closure, the Mulholland Bridge, I-405 freeway and access ramps will be closed.

 

Have a great weekend – Ride Safe!

 

 

Community Forum, Bring Bike Sharing to Santa Monica

2 Replies

Bike Share, A System for Santa Monica?
Community Forum co-hosted by Global Green and the Santa Monica Transportation Department

When:     Wednesday, July 20th
Where:    Santa Monica Civic, 1855 Main Street
Time:       6:00pm – 8:00pm
RSVP:      Carolyn Gibson at cgibson@globalgreen.org

 

Santa Monica has long defined itself as an environmental leader, in terms of biking, some feel the city is falling behind.  Cities around the world are prioritizing bicycling as a solution to alleviate traffic and gridlock, reduce carbon emissions and foster a healthier population: we want Santa Monica to be doing the same. A bike share program is a highly visible, all-inclusive way to spread awareness and interest in bicycling and to help Santa Monica reach its bicycle goals.

Bike sharing is a system in which numbers of bicycles are made available for shared use.  (A system the city already has in use for its employees)  As a non-profit environmental organization headquartered in Santa Monica, Global Green USA has worked with the city on various environmental endeavors that fits into its organizational goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and foster sustainability in urban environments.  Following in that tradition, Global Green and the Santa Monica Transportation Department will co-host a community forum on July 20th to give the community a chance to learn about bike sharing, test out some of the latest models, and give input on how bike sharing could be right for Santa Monica.

No CicLAvia on July 10th, but….

Leave a reply

Some of the latest from:

July 10th Community Ride!

Due to overwhelming success, and the need to expand, CicLAvia and the city of Los Angeles have decided to focus our energies on expanding the CicLAvia route on October 9, 2011 and to forgo the announced July 10, 2011 date. More information at the announcement here. Instead of a full-on wonderful CicLAvia on Sunday July 10th, we’ll be hosting a group ride to explore communities. No streets will be closed, it won’t be CicLAvia, but it’s a great time to bike together and explore L.A. neighborhoods.

The July 10th CicLAvia Community Ride meets at 12:30pm and departs at 1pm from Hollenbeck Park – on 4th Street at St. Louis Street in Boyle Heights. The ride is easy, slow pace, approximately 10 miles long, and features areas for planned CicLAvia expansion: Boyle Heights, Chinatown, and South Los Angeles. Riders will be required to follow traffic laws, sign waivers. Helmets legally required for riders age 16 and under. There’s a suggested donation of $5, but no one turned away. Tambien: fun CicLAvia schwag available for purchase!

Share and rsvp for the July 10th Community Ride via this facebook event.

Next CicLAvia will be Sunday October 9th 2011!

We’re in negotiations to finalize the October 9th 2011 route — It’s going to include fun new streets, and some great new features! We’ll be announcing the final route by early August, and muchisimo more special stuff as October approaches. Mark your calendar now! Rsvp and share via October 9th 2011 CicLAvia Facebook event. Check out the CicLAvia blog for a sneak peak at DRAFT routes for South L.A., Boyle Heights, and Chinatown.

Donate Today to Keep CicLAvia Strong and Free!

CicLAvia needs your support! Contributors receive sweet CicLAvia goodies: spoke cards, T-shirts, and more fun stuff soon! If youcontribute $25 or more this month, you’re entered in our special June 2011 sweepstakes to win a handsome Pedaler Clothing hoodie! Only 2 days remaining for this special promotion - donate today! Click here to give online. If you’ve enjoyed CicLAvia in the past, please support our future!

Keep up with CicLAvia via Twitter, Facebook, y our blog.

Mark your calendars!  We’ll again be leading a feeder ride from Santa Monica to the October 9th CicLAvia and WE WANT YOU TO COME!!

Great Meeting last night!

1 Reply

More complete post on last nights meeting soon
this from Spokes  Barbara Filet

SMPD Sgt. Thomas McLaughlin, our new Police Bike Liaison, and Lucy Dyke, Deputy Director, were our honored guests last night at the Spoke public meeting. Both were appointed by their bosses to focus on bicyclists. The meeting was well attended and we were favorably impressed with Thomas, our new police ambassador and Lucy was also enthusiastic and engaged, telling us about her work planning for bikes. Thomas is doing a lot of research to find best practices for police relations with bicyclists, such as the ticket diversion program in Huntington Beach, where bicyclists and pedestrians can take classes instead of paying huge fines.

 

Thank you Lucy and Thomas.

Contact info for Stg. Thomas McLaughlin, Thomas.McLaughlin@SMGOV.NET

 

Presidential Commendation for SAMOHI juniors for Bike it! Day

1 Reply


A Presidential Commendation from President Barack Obama has been awarded to Samohi juniors, Jenna Perelman and Charlotte Biren.
This rare honor is for environmental leadership of Bike It! Day and excellence in student achievement.  The US Environmental Protection Agency described their work as ” inspiring” and “motivating others through their example”

Jenna and Charlotte are co-presidents of the Samohi Solar Alliance, the biggest club at Samohi.

Both walked into the SMMUSD School Board meeting last night as part of the Samohi Solar Alliance. They were highly excited;  ready to receive a School Board Commendation to their organization.

The Board Commendation to SSA was for initiating and leading Bike It! Day at Samohi, and across the SMMUSD District. (Bike It! Day is now a California leading environmental and bike effort in every Santa Monica school and across the District)

They knew the School Board Commendation was a big honor; fifteen other Alliance members were there to receive their certificates.
The Presidential Commendation were announced after the Board Commendation ceremony.

It was a deeply stunning surprise. A highlight moment for bikes, the environment, and two wonderful Samohi students. Santa Monica Spoke has supported Bike It! Day from the outset and really helped build it up to what it is. Thanks!

Congratulations Charlotte and Jenna!


Richard McKinnon
Bike it! Day Chair

 

Charlotte & Jenna with some history on Bike it! Day
Also covered in the Santa Monica Patch
Bike it! Day info, invitation letter