July 4, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Bike Center Finally Debuts:

With all the talk of promoting increased bicycle use to improve traffic circulation in Santa Monica, the city finally showed it is ready to walk the walk – or, in this case, ride the ride – with the grand opening of the Santa Monica Bike Center last Friday.

In a red-ribbon cutting ceremony attended by city and county officials as well as key bicycle advocacy groups and community leaders, Santa Monica officially unveiled the largest-ever bicycle parking facility of its kind in the nation.

The full-service bicycle facility includes space to park about 357 bikes. It also provides patrons with rental service, showers, restrooms, lockers, vending options, and space for self-service repairs.

The Bike Center is built into the southwest corner of the Santa Monica Place parking structure. If the space had been designated for parking, it would only serve 27 vehicles.

The Center is built thanks to a partnership between City Hall, Los Angeles County, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The 5,300 square foot Bike Center aims to increase bicycle use throughout Santa Monica and the immediate region. Once the Expo Light Rail arrives a few hundred feet away in 2015, the Bike Center will be an ideal location not only for dense bicycle use, but also for increased transit connections.

Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom said the timing of the Bike Center’s opening was the vital first step in stifling the city’s reliance on automobiles and making downtown more accessible.

“It’s all about connectiveness. It’s all about … making things easy so that it’s easier to get around without a car,” Bloom said.

He said he hoped the idea of a hub dedicated to bicycles would spread beyond Santa Monica.

“We’re a great incubator here,” he said. “We like to innovate. (The Bike Center) is a great example of that; it’s all well and good that we do things like this in Santa Monica, but … we’ll know things have really taken off when we see this replicated in city after city.”

Elaborating on the facility’s connectivity, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky explained how the Bike Center would open the floodgates for more cities within Los Angeles County to follow Santa Monica’s lead.

“Bicycles have become an integral part of our transportation system. Public policy makers such as myself are looking for ways in which we can better integrate bicycles into our regional transportation network. This Bike Center is one of the most significant developments along these lines,” Yaroslavsky told The Mirror.

“A template is being created here for the rest of the county. Santa Monica is willing to risk failure in the interest of having great success. This is going to be a huge success.”

Council member Kevin McKeown said the Bike Center, located on the corner of Colorado Avenue and Second Street, was reflective of Santa Monica’s can-do attitude. Arriving to the newly christened facility on his bicycle, McKeown said both he and his fellow Santa Monicans were rolling up the cuffs of their pants.

“I am particularly proud of Santa Monica today because whenever there is good work to be done, Santa Monica rolls up its sleeves. Today we rolled up our pants,” McKeown told The Mirror. “We’ve always been a trendsetter and we invite the communities around us to join the trend. Bicycles are the future of mobility on the Westside.”

The red ribbon ceremony was preceded by a symbolic bicycle ride around the civic center.

Representatives from Metro, Santa Monica SPOKE, and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition were also in attendance.

in News
<>Related Posts

Col. Eric Swenson Honored by LA for Historic Debris Removal Effort

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Swenson, with a distinguished military background including a Ph.D. and multiple master’s degrees from Penn State and other institutions, has...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles. Go...

(Video) Gladstone’s Malibu Prepares for Reopening after Surviving Palisades Fires

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

With One Half of its Structure Slightly Charred and Undergoing Repairs, Gladstone’s Malibu is Reopening its Patio Space Just in...

Santa Monica Public Library Launches Community Mapping Survey

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

The initiative aims to shape the library’s programs and services to better meet community needs, fostering an inclusive and accessible...

Third Street Promenade Loses Bibibop Asian Grill

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Bibibop opened at the Santa Monica location in 2017 after taking over a former ShopHouse space Bibibop Asian Grill, a...

Proposed Rebuilding Authority for Wildfire Recovery Sparks Local Control Debate

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Plan Aims to Streamline Rebuilding but Raises Questions Over Community Input A proposed “Resilient Rebuilding Authority” to oversee recovery from...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150 National Guard...

(Video) ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Champion Pulls Big Blue Bus for 30 feet

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

World-class strongman Martins Licis pulled a 34,680‑pound, 35-feet long, battery electric bus through the Pier to set off Pier 360...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

More Commercial Uses Could Be Coming to RAND Building

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Amendment Unlocks New Opportunities, Secures $5.5 Million in Community Benefits The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to...

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...