Author Archives: Cynthia Rose

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

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.govphil.brock@santamonica.govchristine.parra@santamonica.govlana.negrete@santamonica.govjesse.zwick@santamonica.govCaroline.Torosis@santamonica.govoscar.delatorre@santamonica.govcouncilmtgitems@santamonica.govdavid.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!

Action Item 16D: Improve Safety and Support Safe Routes to School funding. Email Council Today

This Tuesday, 12/19, Santa Monica City Council proposes an opportunity to create funding for Safe Street Infrastructure and Safe Routes to School.

On Tuesday, at the request of safety champions Councilmembers Zwick, Davis, and Torosis, Santa Monica City Council will vote on item 16D potentially placing a measure on the November 2024 ballot to increase the parking facility tax while preserving free 90-minute parking in the downtown lots. This measure can help to address traffic congestion and with it the risk of traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Santa Monica.

Send an email to voice your support of the City Council Agenda Item 16D motion by Councilmember Zwick, Torosis and Mayor Davis to reduce traffic and improve safety. Click here to send your email

This measure would generate funding to be used to prioritize today’s youth and future generations by restoring essential resources to Santa Monica’s Safe Routes to School programs. Resources would fund safety-enhancing street infrastructure to protect children, elderly and disabled residents; add additional school crossing guards and traffic enforcement officers. Additionally funds would be used to address the deferred maintenance needs of the City’s downtown parking structures.

Join us in support of item 16D and help create a significant and positive impact for street safety and climate resiliency in Santa Monica with resources to fund safety-enhancing street infrastructure and protect the most vulnerable in our community, and all who live in or visit Santa Monica.

Easy One click to Email Council
We encourage you to personalize, add your own stories or comments – and please don’t forget to sign your name and add your zip code.

Council item emails: 
gleam.davis@santamonica.govphil.brock@santamonica.govchristine.parra@santamonica.govlana.negrete@santamonica.govjesse.zwick@santamonica.govCaroline.Torosis@santamonica.govoscar.delatorre@santamonica.govcouncilmtgitems@santamonica.govdavid.white@santamonica.gov, Anuj.Gupta@santamonica.gov, council@smgov.net,

17th Street & Michigan Avenue Ribbon Cutting

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

Save the Date: Dec 2nd 17th Street Ribbon Cutting Event


17th and Colorado (Metro lot)
Santa Monica Street Safety Champion Mayor Gleam Davis, Community Booths, Entertainment, Bike Give Away and more!

Please stop by and say hi!
Santa Monica Spoke, SaMo Safe Streets Alliance and our Youth Leadership Collective will all be there!
We will have booth with safety info and materials + free helmets to give a way (while supply lasts).

Updated info will be posted on the event page HERE


 

Safer Streets item 16C Unanimously Approved

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