July 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Bike Action Plan Continues To Take Form:

The wheels of the Bike Action Plan continue to rotate forward through the Santa Monica civic process, as the back and forth volley between the Planning Commission and City Council seems to be coming to an end.

After planning commissioners gave its thumbs up to the 400-page Bike Action Plan last week, the issue is finally headed to council members where the matter will be heard on Nov. 22 and determined whether it will be considered for adoption.

About three months earlier, the council had discussed the Bike Action Plan as part of a study session in August. The results of the discussion were sent back to the Planning Commission, which in turn worked on the plan and volleyed it back to council.

The consideration of the Bike Action Plan by Planning Commission last week and council members next week brackets the opening of the new Bike Station in the Downtown on Nov. 18.

With a groundswell of bicycle-related activity spawning from City Hall, Planning Commissioner Richard McKinnon said the timing of the Bike Action Plan and the Bike Center opening making headlines in Santa Monica is not coincidental.

“There was a surge in cyclists and more people were demanding more facilities. Now it’s a whole new world. Bikes are increasingly a viable way to get around,” McKinnon told The Mirror, adding the development of the city as being bike-friendly “well get us closer (to cities like) Portland, Seattle, and Madison.”

Adding that Santa Monica “is one of the densest cities on the West Coast” and about 70 percent of Santa Monicans have bikes, McKinnon said everything is in place for a viable Bike Action Plan to be executed.

Even more, the Bike Action Plan, which was developed within the confines of City Hall’s Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) master plan, should help Santa Monica make better use of its proposed bike lanes than Irvine in Orange County, which, McKinnon points out, “has hundreds of miles of bike lanes and no one is using them.”

So, what is in a plan?

Well, what has come out of the Planning Commission and is in transit to council next week is a 400-page document that essentially “has every (Santa Monica) street marked for a bike treatment” and has five-year and 20-year implementation marks.

Within the first few months of the five-year plan, the Bike Action Plan, if adopted in its current form, would add 19 miles of bike lanes and 14 miles of sharrows. Bicycle parking would also increase, with 800 on-street spaces coming in the first year and 2,500 total being added over the course of five years.

In addition to the Bike Station opening near City Hall, Santa Monica would also have the country’s first-ever permanent Bike Education Campus.

Even more, expect to see the addition of buffered green bike lanes running up and down Main Street from the city’s southern border with Venice through Downtown (Second Street) and then up to Montana Avenue.

The buffered green lanes would also be implemented east-to-west along Broadway from Centinela to Ocean, and as well along Ocean Park Boulevard from Lincoln to Main Street.

From a technology standpoint the Bike Action Plan seeks to add as many as 34 intersections will have bike video detection units connected to the citywide Traffic Management System.

Expect new signage to be installed along the beach bike path and connections to the Expo Light Rail line once it arrives in Santa Monica come 2015.

In all, City Hall will be spending about $8 million in planning, design, road improvement, special programs, community education, and grant funding, among other things, as it relates to establishing a viable bicycle culture in Santa Monica.

“A year ago there was no bike plan, no new money, no interdepartmental committee of the city,” McKinnon said. “So in a year the City has moved from a receptive place for bikes (but stationery) to a full on, flat out commitment few other cities in America can match.”

in News
<>Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Film Review: Superman

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

“This movie is packed with storyline, Superman lore, meaningful objects, and action.” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole Rated PG-13129 MinutesReleased July...

Multiple Drug Arrests Reported in Palisades Park in Recent Weeks

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

SMPD Reported Several of the Arrests Between June 29 and July 5 The Santa Monica Police Department reported several drug-related...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

SMPD to Conduct Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation on Friday

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The focus will be on speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to cyclists or walkers,...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

LAPD Seeks Missing 63-Year-Old Man Known to Frequent Playa Vista

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

His family last heard from him via a group text on June 22 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons...

Santa Monica Offers City-Owned Properties for Affordable Housing Development

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The move aims to address the city’s Regional Housing Need Assessment of 8,895 units, with a goal of producing at...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...