Monthly Archives: August 2013

Help improve safety on Pacific Coast Highway

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The City of Malibu in collaboration with Southern California Association of Governments is preparing a safety study with recommended improvements along PCH. During Phase 2 of this online tool, we are asking that you take a moment to provide input on the corridorwide issues as well as the study area specific recommended solutions identified.
One of the issues is to prioritize and create action items to address Pedestrian Safety & Bicycle Accommodations. This is a simple survey that can help us add safety and equity for all road users on PCH. You need not fill in all topics.

This corridor is highly utilized for all kinds of people on bikes. Your input can help create a safer PCH.

Click HERE or on the image below to get to the survey.
Screen Shot 2013-08-23 at 12.36.21 PM

 

SANTA MONICA AIRPORT BIKE RIDE: Envision some possibilities

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You are invited to a Bike Ride around Santa Monica Airport SMO-bike-draftbeta

Sunday September 15th, 
10am, Clover Park. 
Meet at the southwest corner, next to the Santa Monica Airport fence.

Come for a short 4.5 mile ride around the perimeter of Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in order to see and learn about some of the current issues relating to this facility and hear about potential creative new uses for this property.  There are two short hills. Bring a lock, helmet and picnic if you like.
Ride hosts will make presentations, offer views & options for this space at different stops along the ride.
Michael Brodsky, Professor at Loyola Marymount University
Frank C. Gruber, Attorney and blogger at http://thehealthycitylocal.com

no_bikes_no_peopleBackstory:
Santa Monica Airport is a part of the City of Santa Monica that residents rarely see and use – and even fewer see it by bike – or envision potential cycling connectivity relating to this space.
There is growing interest to learn more about Santa Monica Airport issues in regards to Land Use, air pollution, noise, safety, sustainability, transportation and quality of life.

Some of the concerns and questions put forward include:

  • Nearby residents who feel severely impacted by the airport facility have voiced concerns about air pollution, lead pollution, constant noise and regular plane crashes.
  • Residents who do not live near the airport have questioned the cost of subsidizing the airport as well as the significant environmental costs and lack of sustainability that private jet travel represents.
  • Questions regarding the expense and pollution of running this large 227 acre facility that is used by very few residents. Should so few benefit from this large property that the City owns and maintains?

planes__and_kids soccer_and_planes planes_and_seniors

Back in February of 2012 the City of Santa Monica invited residents to participate in small group discussions to collect input on the future of the Airport with Santa Monica Airport Community Process.
The FAA contract with the City of Santa Monica ends in 2015, there are residents who feel that the contract should not be renewed. They are beginning to explore exciting new possibilities for the land use that could turn this facility into a healthy benefit for the entire city and region.
This idea is not new or radical, as many communities around the country have chosen to do just that and close down polluting airports and convert the large spaces into parks.
Some of those questions could be:

  • Why not here is Santa Monica?
  • What if we expanded Clover Park to a great civic park? This could be a jewel that every one could enjoy!  A park like this could be a huge public benefit to help us create a more livable and healthier vibrant community.
  • What if this park could contain miles of walking paths and protected bike ways? It could be a destination for walking and biking and encourage a whole new generation of riders to learn and enjoy cycling in a safe and healthy environment.  How wonderful if we could connect children to healthy active living and nature!
  •  What if the park included public and community gardens where local produce could be sold on location.
  • Existing hangers and buildings could be repurposed from current aviation only use and instead be leased out to more sustainable uses such as Green Incubators and E Startups as well as artist studios which could be specifically designed to link to future active transportation like biking and walking infrastructure with connectivity to Bergamont Station, the Expo line and neighborhoods currently bifurcated by the property.

Come on this ride to hear and help envision some of the possibilities for the Santa Monica Airport!

Santa Monica Airport Ride / Brodsky

Another related event: October 3rd

This ride precedes another public event scheduled October 3, 2013 where all interested community members are invited to come and design a POTENTIAL FUTURE PARK on the site of the Santa Monica Airport. Everyone is invited to come and contribute their ideas to what this new park could be.

Thursday Oct. 3, 2013
Mt. Olive Church 1343 Ocean Park
6:30pm

Santa Monica Spoke Meeting, Saturday August 17th

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SAVE the DATE August 17th for a Summer’s end Spoke meeting where we will get presentations and have the opportunity for input and feedback, and have City staff to answer questions.
Get information and give input on:

  • Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway Presentation and input gathering
  • Update on the Bike Action Plan – Help prioritize implementation and add your wish list
  • Bike Parking
  • Safe Routes to School: Planning, Education, Bike and Walking school busses – Updates
  • Bike, Walk Santa Monica / Santa Monica Walks to support Pedestrian Action Plan, survey
  • Envisioning different uses, Santa Monica Airport
  • Expo Phase 2, challenges and progress
  • Ideas on what kind of projects you would like us to focus on
  • volunteer ideas and projects

And more!

When:      Saturday August 17th
Time:       11:00am
Where:    502 Colorado, 

sm_meet

Colorado Community Room,
502 Colorado, Corner 5th & Colorado
Enter at gate on COLORADO
Bike parking in the patio

 

 

Tour da Arts, vol 5: August 18th! FUN & FREE

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Tour-da-Arts-vol5-Banner

Tour da Arts, vol. 5

SUNDAY, AUG 18, 2013  11AM–5PM iCAL
Admission is FREE and open to all ages. Registration is required, and space is limited.
General Admission Free RSVP

Beat the pump, cycle the town, and enjoy Santa Monica’s sights and sounds with Tour da Arts, vol. 5. The Santa Monica Museum of Art’s fifth annual event takes you on a ride filled with music, dance, and art.

Tour da Arts schedule and festivities:

Tour da Arts kicks off with a welcoming bicycle-themed festival at SMMoA. The focus of this year’s festival will be multi-modal transportation and the creative side of bike culture. As the first stop on the tour, SMMoA represents the visual arts and hosts walk-throughs of its summer exhibitions.

11 am – 1 pm: Tour da Arts Festival and Check-in at the Santa Monica Museum of Art

  • Tours of SMMoA’s current exhibitions: Joyce Pensato: I KILLED KENNY, dosa at SMMoA: Exploring Joshua Tree, and Marco Rios: Anatomy of an Absent Artist
  • Bike Advocacy: Learn fun and safe biking tips from Santa Monica Spoke/Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, LA Metro, City of Santa Monica Transportation, and C.I.C.L.E.
  • Art Bikes and Tune-ups: Get a complimentary bike tune-up from Bikerowave, a volunteer-run community operated bike repair shop in Mar Vista. Check out Solé Bicycles’ Art Bikes, a series of unique, artist-designed fixed-gears
  • Food and Drink: Enjoy delicious options from ONE Coconut Water, Clif/Luna Bar, and Whole Foods Market Santa Monica 

1 pm: Tour da Arts, vol. 5  Cultural Bike Tour departs SMMoA

1:30 – 2:15 pm: Second Stop: Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club

  • Enjoy We Love Tap— a live, contemporary tap performance by Chloe and Maud Productions
  • Refreshments and snacks provided by Whole Foods Market Santa Monica, Clif Bar, ONE Coconut Water

3:00 – 3:45 pm: Third Stop: Grant Elementary School Playground

  • At the Oasis— an exclusive performance by Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre choreographed specifically for this stop
  • Refreshments and treats provided by Handsome Coffee Roasters and Isabella’s Cookies

4:15 – 5:00 pm: Final Stop: Return to SMMoA at the Bergamot Station Arts Center

What to Bring: Basic riding skills and a bicycle in good running order. All participants under the age of 18 must wear a helmet and be escorted by a parent or guardian. Children under the age of 9 should be on a tag-along, bike trailer, tandem, or other safe child-carrying device.

SOLD OUT: 25 free bike rentals will be provided by Perry’s Café and Rentals on a first-come, first-served basis. Bike reservations can be made in the registration form while supplies last.

Congratulations to David Chernobylsky, SMMoA’s Tour da Arts, vol. 5 “Bike Critter Art Contest” winner! Chernobylsky’s drawing is the featured mascot for this year’s ride.

Participation in Tour da Arts, vol. 5 is FREE thanks to our generous sponsors: the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica ArtsCity of Santa MonicaCommission and the Barnwood Foundation.
Special thanks to our event partners: Santa Monica SPOKE/LACBC, C.I.C.L.E., Clif/Luna Bar/Clif Kids, Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, Grant Elementary School,  Bike Attack, iZip Hybrid Electric Bicycles, Solé Bicycles, Pedal or Not Electric Bike Tours and Pedego Santa Monica Electric Bicycles, Linus Bikes, LA Metro, Perry’s Café and Rentals, Handsome Coffee Roasters, Isabella’s Cookie Company, Bikerowave, City of Santa Monica Water Treatment Program, Bergamot Station Arts Center, LLC.

Special thanks also to our in-kind sponsors: Whole Foods Market Santa Monica, Clif Bar, ONE Coconut Water.

Tour da Arts 5 Partners