Happy Bike Month
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Category Archives: National
National: Draft rules don’t count bicyclists! We can change them!
We need your help (again)!
The Federal Highway Administration once again ignored bicyclists when determining performance measures for our transportation system. These performance measures may affect future funding to these areas- and could be a disincentive for states and communities to build biking and walking networks.
- Even though Congress just instituted a complete streets policy for the National Highway System (Main streets, arterials and other major roads), FHWA wants to measure performance of the system using a measure for drivers only.
- It measures congestion by measuring delay for drivers, but gives no credit to states or metropolitan areas that invest in biking, walking or transit facilities that reduce congestion.
- Finally, the rule sets goals for measuring air pollutants from transportation, but doesn’t include greenhouse gases.
If these draft rules are implemented, they will hinder the ability of local governments to implement complete streets, build protected bike lanes, etc.
We can change these rules! We’ve done it before!
With your help we convinced FHWA to include a safety performance measure for biking and walking. We need your help again.
Send in your own comments here.
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/
Santa Monica’s Savvy Multimodalism Shows Moxie
Great video of our fair city!
Shot before Expo Light Rail Line arrived – this is a great look at the steps City of Santa Monica has taken to move us toward a safer, more active, healthy and sustainable community that serves it’s residents and welcomes visitors. If you haven’t been here lately – COME VISIT US!
Lots of events this week and beyond –
Wednesday- Free Screening: Carless in LA, one woman care free trek through Los Angeles
Thursday- HandleBar Happy Hour at Upper West
check SMSpoke.org/events
Now with Expo it is even easier to get west – don’t miss Coast – Santa Monica’s Open Streets Event
From STREETFILMS
“Santa Monica certainly has a wave of transportation wonders taking flight. Like many cities they seem to be trying out a heaping of everything: bike share, a mix of bike lane treatments, a new rail line, neighborhood greenways, a pedestrian action plan (incorporating Vision Zero), a new people-friendly promenade/protected cycletrack where the Expo line terminates and of course they always have the hard-to-miss Big Blue Bus!
Just in the last six months they have launched both Breeze bike share and opened the Expo rail line to downtown Los Angeles which cuts travel times from an hour and a half by bus to 50 minutes. (Personal note: after spending the day shooting this story I endured a 2 hour and 15 minute bus ride back to L.A.’s Union Station. So at rush hour it can be even more tortuous than that!) The Breeze bike share was my first experience with the smart bike program and it was easy to use and comfortable.
So come see just some of the many options the city has employed to make getting around as easy as possible whatever mode you choose. Thanks much to the wonderful Cynthia Rose from Santa Monica Spoke who made my first visit there a joy by giving me the grand tour.”
Thank you Clarence!
Ask Sec. Foxx to consider bicyclists when evaluating our roads
We need your help
The Federal Highway Administration once again ignored bicyclists when determining performance measures for our transportation system. Please ask Secretary Foxx to consider bicyclists when doing performance evaluations of our streets and roads.
- Even though Congress just instituted a complete streets policy for the National Highway System (Main streets, state highways, and other major roads), FHWA wants to measure performance of our transportation system using a measure for drivers only.
- It measures congestion by measuring delay for drivers, but gives no credit to states or metropolitan areas that invest in biking, walking or transit facilities that reduce congestion.
If these draft rules are implemented, they will hinder the ability of local governments to implement complete streets, build protected bike lanes, etc.
Read more about the rule and how it will effect biking.
Please ask Secretary Foxx to consider bicyclists when judging performance of our streets and roads
May: National Bike Month, National Bike Challenge & More!
MAY: NATIONAL BIKE MONTH IS HERE!!!
May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.
Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.
Each year the number and diversity of Bike Month celebrations continues to grow, accelerating the momentum around bicycling nationwide.
Join us for the National Bike Challenge
The National Bike Challenge is a nationwide event uniting thousands of current bicyclists — and encouraging countless new riders. In its simplest form it is a logging center for users to record miles ridden and be part of the national community of bicyclists. It is a free and easy way to challenge yourself, colleagues and the greater community to ride more. Users compete on a local, state and national level. The year the Challenge aims to unite 75,000 riders to pedal 35 million miles from May 1, 2015 until September 30, 2015. Now in its fourth year, the Challenge is a successful partnership between the PeopleForBikes and Kimberly-Clark’s Scott Natural Brand.
PeopleForBikes owns, operates, and maintains the National Bike Challenge website. PeopleForBikes mission is to making bicycling better for everyone by uniting millions of riders, thousands of businesses and hundreds of communities..
Join the Challenge and ride for team Bike Santa Monica!
After you sign up for the National Bike Challenge. and create your account – join team Bike Santa Monica!
The National Bike Challenge officially starts May 1st. We are already warming up in April – don’t wait join now! This year there are 4 apps you can choose from to record your participation. Visit the app gallery here. IT”S EASY!
May 4th: National Walk Bike to School Day
& Bike it Walk it Week Santa Monica
The first-ever National Bike to School Day took place on May 9, 2012, in coordination with the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Month. Almost 1,000 local events in 49 states and the District of Columbia joined together to encourage children to safely bicycle or walk to school.
The event builds on the popularity of Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October. Many communities and schools have been holding spring walk and bicycle to school events for years. National Bike to School Day provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate and to build off of the energy of National Bike Month.
Bike it Walk it Week Santa Monica, May 2nd -6th
Santa Monica and Malibu schools celebrate Bike it Walk it Bus it Week May 2nd-6thth. Join the fun by contacting SRTS Coordinator Cory Keen, your PTA President or the Bike it Walk it Bus it coordinator at your school to find out about how you can participate.
SMMUSD Bike it Walk it
- Lincoln Middle School: May 4th
- Franklin Elementary: May 5th
- Will Rogers Learning Community: April 29th
- Edison Language Academy: May 4th
- Grant Elementary: May 5h
- John Muir Elementary: May 5th
- SMASH: May 5th
- McKinley Elementary: May 4th – 6th
- Roosevelt Elementary: May 3rd
- John Adams Middle School: May 5th
- Samohi: May 18th
Bike Week / Month 2016
Bike Week LA is an annual week of community events sponsored by Metro and local advocates all over the County of Los Angeles to promote bicycling as a sustainable and practical mode of transportation. Check Metro website for events all over LA. In Santa Monica we have you covered, to get connected in your area look up LACBC, or your areas LACBC Local Chapter.
Santa Monica Spoke we will again participate and host rides and events through out the week! More info on these rides and events is coming soon Check out our Event Calendar for the latest. Here is an overview of Metro Events some of what we have planned locally to get you excited!
More are being added – check calendar for updates!
- Nation Bike Challenge Begins. Log miles over smiles from May 1st to September 30th. Join Team Bike Santa Monica in this National Competition. More info online.
- Sunday, May 1st – Gear Up! as we launch Bike Month! Get ready to ride, learn to pedal safely, and win free stuff! 11am-2pm McKinley School, 2401 Santa Monica Blvd
- May 2nd – 6th – Bike it! Walk it! Bus it! to School – SMMUSD. For more information contact Cory.Keen@smgov.net
- Sunday, May 1st – Adult Learn to Ride bike class. For more info and to sign up visit smbikecenter.com/services/bike-classes/
- Every Wednesday Camp Coffee, #CoffeeOutside at Ballona Creek 7:00-8:00am. Bring your camp brew kit or ready made, It’s a great way to start your day. On the jetty at the end of Ballona Creek Bike Path past the bike bridge.
- Wednesdays in May Bike Maintenance Workshop – 4 part series, Santa Monica Bike Center , more info visit smbikecenter.com/services/repair/
- Every Thursday in May Handlebar Happy Hour – Celebrate all things bike as we explore our Santa Monica Buy Local, Bike Local business. This month we visit the Most Loved SM Happy Hour Finalists. Areal, The Craftsman, Rusty’s and Upper West.
- Sunday, May 8th LA Bike Festival: Grand Park, Downton Los Angeles
CycloFemme Rides - Thursday, May 12th, BREEZE BIKE SHARE Handlebar Happy Hour 6 Month Anniversary Celebration at The Craftsman Bar and Kitchen
- Friday, May 13th Big Blue Bus Buy One Get One stock up on your BBB fare!
- Saturday, May 14th Expo II Bike Path Ride info as confirmed at SMSpoke.org
- Sunday, May 15th CicLAvia Southeast Cities 9am-4pm ciclavia.org
Bike LOCAL WEEK Santa Monica
- Sunday, May 15 – Breeze Bike Share Community Ride & Bike Route Tour 10am – noon, meet at 17th Street Expo station.
- Meatless Monday, May 16 – Ride & Fundraiser to the Veggie Grill – We meet at Colorado Center Park at 5:30 to ride (or meet us) at Veggie Grill, 2025 Wilshire blvd
- Tuesday, May 17th Ladies Choice Women and Biking discussions over morning coffee at Sidecar Donuts — 7:30am to 9am, 631 Wilshire Blvd, SM
12th Annual Blessing of the Bicycles - Wednesday, May 18th Special Edition Bike Week Camp Coffee #CoffeeOutside at Ballona Creek 7:00-8:00am. Bring your camp brew kit or ready made, It’s a great way to start your day. On the jetty at the end of Ballona Creek Bike Path past the bridge.
Guided SM City Bike Tour. We’ll check out the new Esplanade & cycle track, then ride some of the great bike facilities that earned Santa Monica its Silver Level Bike Friendly City Designation. We ride to a bonus Handlebar Happy Hour, location tbd - Thursday, May 19th is Bike to Work Day! Sponsored by Metro Visit our website for a full list of Santa Monica pit stop locations. We will be at City Hall as well as several other locations.
Bike From Work Handlebar Happy Hour: TWO in Santa Monica! We will be at Areal 2820 Main Street Main St and Public Bikes 2714 Main St is hosting a Bike From Work Handlebar Happy Hour that benefits Santa Monica Spoke. WOOT!! So FUN and so close – you can do BOTH!
People on bikes Ride Metro and Big Blue Bus for Free today!
Visit metro.net/bikes/bike-month/ for Bike events all over LA County
Free ride time on Breeze Bike Share Thursday May 19 to Saturday May 21 - Friday, May 20th Opening Expo II light rail line and Expo II Bike Path. Festivities are scheduled for noon at 4th Street Terminus station – smgov.net/expo
Expo Trains are FREE Friday & Saturday, May 20th & 21st
Bike to the Movies / Date Night at the Laemmle Theater. Meet at the 4th Street Expo Station and ride to the movies at Laemmle Monica Theater. Time tbd - Saturday May 21st Expo II Station Parties. Visit all three stations, each is themed differently – we plan to be at all three stations. This historic event is one not to be missed. 10am-4pm all stations.
- Sunday, May 22nd Santa Monica Spoke Family Bikes on Expo Tour. Let’s go multi-modal with the whole family. We start at 17th Expo Station take a short ride on the Expo II Bike Path and then jump on Expo to Exposition Park for a short ride around the Rose Garden, then back to Santa Monica. Fun for the whole family. Start time planned for 10am, final details posted to the website soon.
Bike + Train Tour SM Learn to connect bikes to transit with PUBLIC Bikes & Sustainable Streets, free Breeze ride and tap card! 10am- 4pm meet at 2714 Main St.
Intermediate Learn to Ride bike class. For more info and to sign up visit smbikecenter.com/services/bike-classes/
Close out Bike Month with Bike Night at Union Station!
- Friday, May 27th Bike Night is more than just bikes: music from Jungle Fire, raffles and games, awesome prizes from Public Bikes and Tern Bicycles, and the highlight of the evening, a bicycle fashion show!