Category Archives: SaMo Safe Streets Alliance

Upcoming Events: HandleBar Happy Hour & Film Screening

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.

A Call to Roll Back Street Safety Improvements on 17th Street?

A request by council members Brock and de la Torre to “enhance vehicular movements while not compromising bicycle and pedestrian safety” on the new – not yet completed – 17th Street Protected Bikeway. ie. let cars go faster at intersections where the data shows conflicts leading to crashes and injuries happen. If that sounds strange to you we’d have to agree.

There is no need to “study” this, the documentation on how protected bike lanes and intersections improve safety is widely disseminated and accepted worldwide – this YouTube video on the topic was posted over 12 years ago. The “gold” standard implementations on 17th were years in the planning and follow national and international design standards for safety and were designed by experts in the field. Repeated studies consistently show that adding protected bike lanes increases the safety of all road users – people driving cars, walking, and biking. Research shows that adding protected bike lanes reduces all collisions and injuries by 30-50%. The simple fact is research and experience shows again and again and again the same thing: protected bike lanes are good for everyone. The 2018 CalBike report notes that – among other benefits – protected bike lanes “improve safety for bicyclists, car drivers, and pedestrians” and “Get more people to ride bikes by providing the safety, comfort, and separation most people want and need to consider bicycling.” The 17th Street Protected Bikeway configuration fulfills an international “gold” standard for safety referred to as a “Dutch crossing.” 

There is no argument that useful information is a good thing. However it is important to note – this important safety project – after years of planning and outreach – is not yet even complete having suffered many unavoidable delays during construction due to an exceptional rainy season that no doubt led to confusion. Until recently when the work was nearing completion there was legitimate confusion and concerns that arose in the community from both motorists and cyclists. We all know change is hard. It is a given that – although the changes are an improvement – there will be a certain amount of discomfort and confusion when implementing new and unfamiliar road design standards. It is also understandable that concerns are often generated during construction when new street safety projects are partially implemented. However, now that the project is near-finished it has clearly become evident – supported by the overwhelming feedback received – that the configuration fulfills the world class safety standards that were envisioned by the community. So, do we now switch back to choosing speed over safety to “enhance vehicular movements” at intersections? Is this just the beginning? Where will the vehicle prioritizing corrosive changes end?

These sorts of Council member requests are almost routinely passed. We have no doubt an Information Item on the 17th Street protected bikeway improvements will detail the project’s resounding successes and include Staff’s attentiveness throughout the project and into the final stages of completion. Just recently, as the project nears the finish line, City Mobility staff have made adjustments in response to community feedback and regular onsite inspections to accommodate disability parking, signage and potential conflicts with concrete lips. We ask the Council to remove the counterproductive second half of the 16-D request from any motion being considered. Council needs to choose to prioritize safety over speed modifications that “enhance vehicular movements.” Choosing safety and equity for all road users over “enhanc[ing] vehicular movements.”  We know vehicle speed is a key factor in traffic violence that results in serious injuries and traffic fatalities.  We urge Council to stop prioritizing vehicles over people and to affirm prior commitments to protect our most vulnerable road users, people walking and biking.  Prioritize people, kids to seniors, and our collective future for a livable climate.

One click to Email Council
– Please personalize and don’t forget to sign your name and add your zip code

More Press on Santa Monica Next and StreetsBlogLA

Why 17th Street?

17th Street connects local neighborhoods to transit facilities, bikeways, schools, employment opportunities, and entertainment. 17th Street was identified in the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE), Bicycle Action Plan (BAP), and Pedestrian Action Plan to include safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists. With the opening of the Metro Expo light rail station — by 2018 there had already been an 1160% increase in pedestrian traffic and an 82% increase in bicycle traffic.

Kidical Mass: Rainbow Ride for Pride is SATURDAY June 10th!

Rainbow Ride for PRIDE: Dress up in your best Rainbow gear!

Kidical Mass is a Community Bike Ride for Kids to Seniors!
Free: June 10th
RSVP HERE
Active Seniors Pilot RSVP HERE

Join Santa Monica Spoke and City of Santa Monica for the Kidical Mass Rainbow Ride.

Celebrating an inclusive and diverse community during #SaMoPride Month and our new green lanes on 17th Street on a special rainbow themed ride for all ages — kids to seniors! We will take a short family friendly ride on some old and brand new protected green lanes and on MANGo (Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway). We start and end from Memorial Park.

Schedule: Saturday, June 10th
9::00am – 12:00pm
Don’t miss the fun pre-ride activities! And a Surprise Guest!
– Check-in, Hot coffee, juice, bagels and morning munchies, helmet decorating!
– Rainbow Ride for Pride
– Post ride activities – Rainbow Pizza!!

* Children must be accompanied and are the responsibility of their parents. Bikes should be in good working condition. Please use good judgement – ride is on city streets – smaller children should be in a child seat, in a trailer or Tag-a-long……

Happy Bike Month: Week #3 Bike to Work Week Promotions & Bike to Work Day Pitstops, HandleBar Happy Hour & Kidical Mass!

Specials all week when you arrive by bike at Cafe Demitasse. All through May Free Market Bucks at the Sunday Farmer’s Market on Main Street, $1 off all food items at Gilberts El Indio, and Free rides on Big Blue Bus and METRO on Thursday #BTWD

Plus 10+ Bike to Work Day Pitstops this Thursday in Santa Monica

All the Bike Month Events are on our Bike Month Map and in our Events Calendar

Click here to sign up and add your Bike Month Event, Promotion or Bike to Work Day Pitstop or HandleBar Happy Hour #HBHH!


We’ll be joined by members of the City of Santa Monica Mobility Team to answer questions at this Thursdays #HBHH

HandleBar Happy Hour Specials:
• 5-6PM:  $5 Core Beers and $1 Off All other Draft Beer
• 6-7PM: $1 Off All Draft Beers continues for our group!

Our Happy Hours support local businesses and BuyLocalSM like Santa Monica Brew Works food service Emmy Squared Pizza


bike_local_sticker

Every week during Bike Month we get together for fun, support local businesses, and to celebrate all things bike.
Always fun, always family friendly!

Socialize, talk bikes, give input ….


Big thank you to all our Bike Month #BuyLocalSM #BikeLocalSM #HBHH venues Gilbert’s El Indio, ThömusSanta Monica Brew WorksSolidarity and last week TBD

Our next HandleBar Happy Hour is Wednesday, May 24th at Solidarity


Mayor Gleam Davis will join us to Launch the Event Riders!

Join us for a fun filled morning at Clover Park and a Community Bike Ride for all ages!

Our theme is GREEN | VERDE  for Mental Health Awareness and Bike Month
Click HERE for more about Mental Health Awareness Month

Happy Bike Month: Week #1

Join us in Celebrating May, Bike Month in Santa Monica!

Click here to sign up and add your Bike Month Event, Promotion or Bike to Work Day Pitstop or HandleBar Happy Hour #HBHH!
Check back for new events being added!


Our first Bike Month HandleBar Happy Hour is this Thursday at Gilbert’s El Indio

bike_local_sticker

Every week during Bike Month we get together for fun, support local businesses, and to celebrate all things bike.
Always fun, always family friendly!

Socialize, talk bikes, give input ….

If it’s on your way don’t forget to pass the Bike Counter!


Big thank you to all our Bike Month #BuyLocalSM #BikeLocalSM #HBHH venues: Week #1 Gilbert’s El Indio, Week #2 Thömus, Week #3 Santa Monica Brew Works, Week #4 Solidarity and last Week #5 TBD


Bike it! Walk it! Bus it! Week! May 1st to the 6th

Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! week encourages kids to be active, by getting to school using alternative modes of transportation. National Bike to School Day is coming up on: Wednesday, May 3rd…an exciting event aimed at promoting eco-friendly and safe transportation options for students.


Click here to view Map on line