Monthly Archives: March 2015

Take Action: Save Biking & Walking Funding for our Communities

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Bike League Action

Congress is preparing to take action on a new federal transportation bill.  Given the shortfall of federal transportation dollars, some members of Congress are already questioning why the federal government provides any funding for bicycling and walking.

We need your help to make sure that Congress doesn’t cut funding to help local communities build sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, trails and more. Please Ask your Senator to Co-Sponsor S. 705, The Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act.

The Transportation Alternatives Program provides hundreds of millions of dollars each year to local communities to invest in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. It’s the only federal program specifically focused on local transportation priorities. S. 705, the Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act, written by Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), makes changes to the program to  make it more effective and easier for local governments to use.

For decades, our federal transportation system has focused the bulk of its resources on building roads, leaving many of our communities with few transportation options and rising safety risks for people bicycling and walking. More and more Americans want options for bicycling, walking and transit to live healthier and safer lives. More and more cities and towns are clamoring for more facilities for biking and walking to make their communities more attractive to residents and to improve their economies. S. 705 would help make sure that Congress continues to invest a small share of federal transportation dollars in these types of projects.

Ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 705, the Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act, to ensure that our federal transportation system continues to provide funding for bicycling and walking.

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/Shares/BHd8NA4dACgsJAAqnpM7FAA

Expo Reminder: Olympic Boulevard Street Closures for Roadway Improvements

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EXPO SM

These closures can impact people riding bikes with traffic diverted onto streets that would usually be considered more bike friendly by creating additional congestion.

What:   Street Closures for Roadway Improvements
Where: Olympic Boulevard at Cloverfield Boulevard
When:

Location Hours Dates
Full Closure of Westbound Olympic Boulevard between Cloverfield Boulevard and 20th Street 24-Hour Shifts 7:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21 through
5:00 p.m. Monday, March 23, 2015
Full Closure of Eastbound Olympic Boulevard between 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard 24-Hour Shifts 7:00 a.m. Saturday, March 28  through
5:00 p.m. Monday, March 30, 2015         
Daily Partial Lane Closures of Eastbound and Westbound Olympic Boulevard between 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard 24-Hour Lane Closures Monday, March 30 through
Friday, April 3, 2015

 Traffic Impacts:

  • During the Westbound Olympic Boulevard Closure:
    Westbound Olympic Boulevard traffic will be detoured at Cloverfield Boulevard. Eastbound Olympic Boulevard will experience intermittent lane closures.
    Local access for the north side of Olympic Boulevard will be maintained via flaggers.
  • During the Eastbound Olympic Boulevard Closure: Eastbound Olympic Boulevard traffic will be detoured at 20th Street. Westbound Olympic Boulevard will experience intermittent lane closures.
  • Electronic message boards will be used to advise of the closures and manage traffic detours to update commuters as necessary.
  • Directional signage and/or flagmen will be used to safely direct vehicles and pedestrians around the construction zone.

Advisories:

  • Local access to businesses and residences will be maintained throughout all construction activities.
  • Noise levels will be monitored to ensure work performed is within the necessary compliance levels.
  • Please obey all posted construction signs and do not enter the construction work zone.
  • For additional information, contact the City of Santa Monica Public Works Department at 310-458-8736.

(Construction schedules are subject to change for various reasons including but not limited to: weather conditions, unforeseen emergencies and other acts of nature.)

To view the construction notice – please click here.

Two feeder rides from Santa Monica to CicLAvia The Valley, Go MULTIMODAL!

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This Sunday all new CicLAvia – The Valley!
Two Feeder Ride options from Santa Monica, Tongva Park

This first CicLAvia of 2015 represents the inaugural visit of LA’s renowned open streets event to the San Fernando Valley. For this CicLAvia participants will be able to travel between North Hollywood and Studio City on car-free streets, using foot, pedal and non-motorized wheel power. CicLAvia – The Valley March 22, from 9am–4pm

Whether you ride with us or get there on your own – don’t miss it! CicLAvia celebrates the streets of Los Angeles for everyone!  Temporarily limiting the access of motor vehicles and opening the streets to all users – walking, wheelchairs, skates, bikes, scooters, skate boards, strollers – you name it! Helpful suggestion on participation at CicLAvia

We will host two feeder ride options to CicLAvia this Sunday, March 22nd.
PLEASE NOTE: NEW MEETNG LOCATION AND TIME FOR SANTA MONCIA FEEDER RIDES. Both Ride options meet in Tongva Park, 7:30am


Start           Tongva Park, center of park grass area near restrooms
Address      1615 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Meet           7:30am
Roll out      8:00am (sharp)

Option 1 - Multimodal
Bike it to Culver City and EXPO LINE to RED LINE together
THIS ROUTE WAS UPDATED 3/21 DUE TO EXPO CONSTRUCTION

route-7243818-map-fullThis UPDATED Route is 8.2 miles and mostly flat with bike lanes or low traffic volume streets at our time of travel. We will be traveling at an easy pace but do ask you “stay with the pace” so we can all get there together. No rider is left behind.
For feeder ride all young children should be on tag-a-long or in trailers. Want to ride yourself to Expo here’s a simple route on Venice Blvd

Option 2 – Advanced
Bike from Santa Monica to CicLAvia – The Valley

(bail out option at Metro Station Hollywood and Highland)

route-7244420-map-full

This Route is for more advance riders – slightly faster paced with more elevation gain (click map).
The group will still stay together with no rider left behind – you do have the option if you choose to jump on the Metro Red Line if you run out of steam or prefer not to ride over the hill on Cahuenga Blvd.

Want to ride to Red Line on your own? Here is that route

Click here to download map

Stuff to bring:

  • helmut (for feeder ride or children under 18)
  • sun screen
  • cash –
  • spare tube/ patch kit
  • hydration
  • any special tools your bike requires!
  • SMILES

Info on light rail & bus routes to or from CicLAvia

Big Blue Bus Rapid 10 takes the frwy downtown LA from Santa Monica FAST!
Catch the Red Line at the 7th Street Metro Hub . 
Light Rail: Connect to the Expo Line Culver City Station (timetable) then 
Big Blue Bus Rapid 20 to DT SM, Rapid 12 (to Westwood) or Route 12 (Westwood and Palms)
The Metro trip planner can be found here: 

Big Blue Bus -<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Email Newsletter Header Image

 

 

CicLAvia the Valley, March 22nd: Feeder Rides from Santa Monica!

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CicLAvia makes its first journey to the San Fernando Valley March 22, from 9am–4pm when Metro Presents CicLAvia – The Valley. This first CicLAvia of 2015 represents the inaugural visit of LA’s renowned open streets event to the San Fernando Valley.
For this CicLAvia participants will be able to travel between North Hollywood and Studio City on car-free streets, using foot, pedal and non-motorized wheel power. YEY!!

This time we will host TWO feeder events to CicLAvia from Santa Monica!!  
Both start at Tongva Park: “Bike it – all the way” or NEW “Multimodal – Bike it to Expo & Train”
click HERE for all the latest updates and routes.

CicLAvai_032215

 

Click map for larger view or to download

Metro Presents CicLAvia – The Valley runs 5.5 miles along Lankershim Boulevard between the North Hollywood Metro Red Line stop at Chandler Boulevard and the Universal Studio Red Line stop, and along Ventura Boulevard between Campo de Cahuenga and Coldwater Canyon. The route will highlight some of the gems of the East Valley including the North Hollywood Arts District, Universal City, the historic Campo de Cahuenga, Studio City Farmers Market and the famed Sportsmen’s Lodge.

 

TAKE ACTION: Support Safer People, Safer Streets at Council Tuesday 3/17

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ActionAlertSMSpoke

 

 

 

Tell Santa Monica City Council you support SAFER STREETS for EVERYONE with an email now!

You are invited to attend the meeting and speak!

This Tuesday, March 17th Santa Monica City Council will consider the official adoption of US
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx’s challenge of mayors and local elected officials to take significant action to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities over the next year.

With pedestrian and cyclist deaths accounting for a rising share of U.S. traffic fatalities and Congress not exactly raring to take action, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is issuing a direct challenge to America’s mayors to improve street safety. Foxx unveiled the “Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets” at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Transportation Committee meeting in Washington.

Mayor McKeown and Councilmember O’Connor have submitted a request to Santa Monica City Council to authorize Santa Monica’s participation in the US Department of Transportation’s “Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets” (see agenda item request below)

Mayor McKeown attended the Mayors’ Summit for Safer People, Safer Streets last week in Washington DC, where cities have join together to commit to spend the next year helping their communities undertake seven activities to improve safety. The challenge is based on the 2010 USDOT Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation. Click here for an executive summary of the Mayors’ Challenge.

March 17th City Council Agenda Item13-E:
Request of Mayor McKeown and Councilmember O’Connor that the Council authorize Santa Monica’s participation in the United States Department of Transportation’s “Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets,” and reaffirm that pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety are of the utmost importance by pursuing a multi-departmental approach to complete streets and safety. The goal of complete streets is to make streets safe and convenient for all road uses and for people of all ages and abilities. Santa Monica’s Bicycle Action Plan and Pedestrian Action Plan should incorporate best practices from complementary initiatives such as Vision Zero (no loss of life acceptable), and 8-80 Cities (if a city works for persons who are 8 years old and 80 years old, it will be good for all).

Use this template or email directly to send your support – please feel free to add your personal comments.

Send email directly to: Council@SMGov.net, Clerk@SMGov.net, BikePlan@SMSpoke.org

[emailpetition id=”5″]