Santa Monica Spoke joined CalBike and 80+ organizations in support in support of Complete Streets Bill SB 127. Collectively we believe that local streets should include safe space for people who walk, bike or scoot, not just fast-moving cars. We have support from major cities as well as rural/suburban, along with endorsements from elected officials. Many of you have been posting, retweeting, blogging, and putting out action alerts. This has resulted in hundreds of calls and nearly 2500 emails to the Governor’s office.
If you agree, please email Governor Newsom and ask him to sign the Complete Streets Bill, SB 127. This bill will require Caltrans to serve the interests of all road users when it repairs or repaves local streets it controls.
Caltrans has resisted this bill. Governor Newsom needs to hear from you that you want Complete Streets today!
SB 127 has been sitting on the Governor’s desk waiting for a signature (and attention among all the rest of the headliners) – at this point we know he is hearing about the issue and may be briefed as early as tomorrow. But the Caltrans fiscal impact issue still looms. While Calbike and Coalition partners have provided information to counter the Caltrans inflated estimate and the Dept of Finance flawed analysis, we still have convincing to do, especially pointing to the degree of need.
Time for a big push directed at the Governor. There are multiple posts on the CalBike twitter page you can retweet, or create your own as some partners have done (thanks, Transform!). Please tag @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom and @ScottWiener, and #SB127 and #completestreets.
Tell Governor Newsom to sign SB 127, the Complete Streets Bill.
The more people who email Newsom, the more he’ll know that the people of California are holding him to account when he says “If anyone is wondering if climate change is real, come to California.”
(Feel free to customize the email with your own experience of riding and walking on Caltrans streets!)
Calling all road users: people walking, biking, driving cars or scooters! The City of Santa Monica launched an interactive map to provide input on where our communities problem areas are as we studying how to best improve road safety in Santa Monica. We shared this at our last meeting and as part of the Wilshire Blvd. Safety Study outreach. We’ve had some great input – have you given yours? We are asking you to use this new interactive map tool to report any safety concerns you may have through out all of Santa Monica. Check it out at santamonica.gov/friendlyroad
The City of Santa Monica is expanding its green lane network by installing 19 miles of new green bicycle lanes at various locations throughout the city. Free ride time on Breeze for this event – click HERE for more info.
Stay up to date on Bike Month Events, Promotion or Bike to Work Day Pitstop or HandleBar Happy Hour #HBHH on our Calendar! New events still being added!
2019, Santa Monica Bike Month & Bike to Work Day Pit Stop Map:
note: if you know of other Pit Stops not listed – lets us know and we will add them!
Pit Stops on Thursday May 16th
Pilatesmith* 8:00am -10am, At Pilatesmith at 2110 Main St, Santa Monica Stop by Pilatesmith for some cool hydration and a free core workout! We’ll have cold drinks from our friends at RECOVƎR 180 and offer you a 5-minute Mat Pilates core workout so you start your day feeling fresh and strong! And ask any of our team members about our intro offers! http://pilatesmithstudio.com
Helen’s Cycles – Thursday & Friday 8:00am – 10:30am, front of our store – 2501 Broadway Food, Drinks, Nutrition, support
Tradesy, Inc. 8:30am – 10:00am, 1217 2nd Street Drinks, water, coffee, donuts, music (a DJ) and cool Tradesy swag give-aways. http://tradesy.com
Gelson’s Market 9:00am – 11:00am, 2627 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica We will have water, snacks, and giveaways. http://Gelsons.com
Afternoon pitstops ——
Montalba Architects 4:00pm – 5:30pm – 26th/ Bergamot Metro Platform Bike Month materials, swag, Vitamin Water and Lara Bars www.montalbaarchitects.com/
Pedal 4 the Planet – Global Green 4:00pm – 5:00pm – Flywheel 520 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Pedal 4 the Planet – Charity spin ride at Flywheel Santa Monica on May 16th. It’s a 45 Free spin class followed by a happy hour and fun raffle! https://www.mixr.net/mixr/pedal-4-the-planet-flywheel-santa-monica/
Pit Stops on Friday May 17th
City of Santa Monica, 7:30am – 9:00am – the grand-daddy of all local Bike to Work Pit Stops! Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Live Music by Sunny War & DJ Mayo, giveaways, Bike Swag, Free Food, City Bike Info and lots of fun with other bike commuters! Organized by City of Santa Monica in partnership with METRO and Santa Monica Spoke. https://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/Transportation/Bicyclists/
Crossroads School Arts & Sciences 7:00am – 8:00am, 1748 21st Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 In front of a brick building – BIg blue canopy with tables. Water, snacks, giveaways, raffle
Snyder Diamond 7:00am – 9:00am, Front of 1399 Olympic Blvd. / 14th Street Water, juice and snacks, Giveaways
Moore Ruble Yudell 7:00am – 9:00am, 933 Pico Boulevard — Pit Stop on the northwest corner of 10th and Pico. fruit and granola bars – and enthusiasm! www.moorerubleyudell.com
Heal the Bay 7:00am – 9:30am, North West corner of 9th Street and Broadway, in front of PONO Burger (829 Broadway) Free Reusable Cup Giveaway until supplies last. Coffee & light refreshments, Prizes www.healthebay.org
Santa Monica Family YMCA 7:00am – 10:00am, 6th and Santa Monica Blvd Pitstop fun and giveaways
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. 7:30am – 9:30am, 520 Broadway – Corner of 6th and Broadway Gift Cards and Snacks www.downtownsm.com
The Bike Center 7:30am – 10:30am, 1555 2nd St (corner of 2nd St & Colorado Ave) Live DJ + breakfast burritos for the first 50 people who visit our pit stop https://thebikecenter.com
Helen’s Cycles (Thursday & Friday)8:00am – 10:30am, front of our store – 2501 Broadway Food, Drinks, Nutrition, support
Boston Properties and BIRD 8:00am -10:30am, Colorado Center, at 2500 Broadway (at 25th Street) Stop by on your bike for music, breakfast bites, coffee, snacks, water & giveaways!
Afternoon pitstops ——
Funnel Mill Rare Coffee and Tea noon – 2pm, corner of Broadway and 10th street Water, hot/cold coffee and Tea www.funnelmill.com
* Bike Month Specials offered during the all of May
The Gallery Food Hall — 10% discount when you mention #BikeMonthSM or #BikeLocal at Azule, Paperboy and Voltaggio Brothers’ STRFSH Third Street Promenade’s Premier Dining Collective is next to the famed Criterion Theater, the two-level space was overhauled in 2015-16 to create The Gallery, a state-of-the-art marquee food hall featuring unique, neighborhood-serving restaurants and a mix of indoor and outdoor dining space, including the Promenade’s only elevated dining deck. More info HERE
Pilatesmith — Pilatesmith is a new Pilates studio in Santa Monica and is excited to participate in Bike Month this year! Along with a pit stop they’re hosting on Bike to Work Day, all month long you can get $10 off a monthly membership or pack of workouts when you bike to Pilatesmith and purchase!Pilatesmith is a big believer of getting out of your car and on your feet – they encourage their Smiths to walk or bike to workout with a “Scoot, Spin, or Stroll” loyalty program.
Bike Share Connect — Free Ride* time all day May 16th , Bike to Work Day. *out of hub fees still apply — Discounted membership prices all of May. Sign up as usual! (Web buttons may read regular price but will charge promo rate) Promo rates good until end of May only. •Annual membership is now $54.75 (15¢/day) •Monthly is $6.20 (20¢/day) •Bike Share For All is $4.65 (15¢/day •Student is $4.65 (15¢/day)
Big Blue Bus – — Extend your commuting possibilities – Ride for free May 16th , Bike to Work Day. Join BBB and all the local bicycle commuters to celebrate Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 16. Bring your bike, folding bike or helmet on board a Big Blue Bus and you ride for FREE. You heard that right!
Orchestra Santa Monica — Orchestra Santa Monica Presents its ”Bohemian Rhapsodies” Concert Sunday, May 26, 2019 Santa Monica Spoke and our cycling community are invited to to attend this performance and a special offer saving $5-$10 per ticket. Click HERE to access this special on-line-only ticket offer. — During Bike Month events we will be giving away 4 complimentary tickets to this concert — courtesy of Santa Monica Orchestra.
Santa Monica Chamber — On social media use the tag #SMChamber in addition to #BikeMonthSM #BikeLocalSM and you will get free entry into the SM Chamber’s Biz@Sunset events on either 5/15 or 6/25. The Chamber will contact you via social media you post on to give you a code to get the ticket. May 15th Biz@Sunset celebrates Santa Monica’s Most Loved Businesses over drinks and small bites. This is a great way to connect and network within the local business community.
This Sunday is the City of Santa Monica’s third annual open streets event COAST presented by Metro. At this free event, the public will experience two miles of streets closed to car traffic and filled with interactive art exhibits, live performances, local food and business purveyors, and connections with families, friends, and neighbors.
More info on COAST HERE
Visit Santa Monica Spoke and the Santa Monica Safe Street Alliance on route in front of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Free Bike and Small Wheels Skills, Safety & Obstacle course for the kids (11am-3pm)– bikes/helmets provided by Santa Monica Safe Routes to School
FREE bike safety checks by Performance Bicycle Santa Monica
BEST Class” Bicycling 101 (1pm – 2pm) register HERE for Free
– no bike needed for this workshop
– gifts for all attendees – (please register)
Lots of great information all day at COAST
– free and low cost helmets while they last.
In its second year in 2017, COAST welcomed more than 50,000 visitors of all ages to Downtown Santa Monica for the event. This year the route will feature a variety of interactive and eclectic performances including a performance stage on Ocean Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard, strolling musicians, dancers and large-scale immersive art installations at site-specific locations to be discovered along the route.
Aerial Artist John Q will gather up to 1,000 people in real time at the event creating a live human installation to artistically illustrate art, mobility and sustainability. Artists Jana Cruder and Matthew LaPenta demonstrate the impact of disposable plastic on the natural environment with their larger-than-life art installation titled, Natural Plasticity, constructed of a massive plastic straw and giant plastic bottle towering nearly 30 feet high. Event goers will have an opportunity to contribute their personal mark to artist Peter Tigler’s interactive thumbprint mural that will take shape with public participation to illustrate a message of mobility and sustainability.
Where:
Volunteers will meet in downtown Santa Monica, on Ocean Ave just north of Santa Monica Blvd. There will be an A frame with a bright umbrella just north of the stage where folks can assemble. A volunteer coordinator will be there to greet everyone. Participants arriving at 11:30am will see us set up just north of the stage, the image will be more obvious / laid out by then.
The Santa Monica Community Garden offers a variety of ways to explore the natural world through garden tours, arts and crafts, planting tips, and a how-to on preparing home-grown vegetables. Active Santa Monica will lead a series of engaging sessions ranging from dance to sports.
COAST will be held on two miles of streets closed to street traffic, including Ocean Avenue from Wilshire Boulevard to Tongva Park, as well as Main Street to Marine Street. To attend COAST, visitors can ride the Expo Line, Big Blue Bus, or take advantage of Santa Monica’s 110 miles of bikeways.
Attendees are encouraged to use all human power mobility, ride bikes or walk along the route. Bike rental will be available at multiple locations along the route as well as 85 Breeze stations located throughout Santa Monica. Free bike valets will be available to make it easy to check-in your bike to grab lunch and enjoy the entertainment.
The event is funded by Metro’s Open Streets Grant Program, which seeks to bring visitors to new parts of the region to explore and enjoy car-free streets within Los Angeles County. Metro supports numerous active transportation programs that create better conditions for walking and bicycling, particularly to connect with Metro’s growing public transit system. The agency’s Open Streets Program, the largest of its kind in the United States, invests approximately $2 million each year for car-free events, many in new communities. In total, 23 Open Streets events have been hosted to date.
Safe Streets for 17th Street & Michigan Avenue goes before
Santa Monica City Council Tonight.
We LOVE this project.
You can explore more HERE and HERE
Today we sent a letter to the Santa Monica City Council, management and staff in support of Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue. We hope you will join us and send an email with your thoughts to Council@SMGov.net
Dear Mayor Ted Winterer, Santa Monica City Council, management and staff:
Thank you for your leadership as we move toward a more sustainable, healthier and active multimodal Santa Monica. Attached is our letter expressing our enthusiastic support of the Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue Project and the allocation of funds to “green bike lanes” — making them more visible, safe and inviting. In particular we would like to thank the Mobility Division and Carlos Morales for their planning of this visionary project and the dedication to robust and inclusive outreach as we move toward final planning and implementation. We do believe moving the implementation to the fastest timeline feasible would be a community benefit and get us closer too achieving our city’s safety and mobility goals.
Click map to download PDF 
