Santa Monica Spoke

Our Site has OFFICIALLY MOVED

Santa Monica Spoke — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:52:26 +0000

Santa Monica Spoke has officially moved to:

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SMSpoke.org

Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds. This site will no longer be updated.

The information contained here will remain for archival purposes but has also been copied to the new site.

We look forward to you visiting us at the new site.

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Follow Up To Agensys Planning Commission Meeting, Part 1

Santa Monica Spoke — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:27:48 +0000

from blog: Gary Rides Bikes

First of all I want to thank everyone who turned out to voice support for cycling at the meeting. The strong presence, which included the majority of the SM Spoke steering committee, and the numerous comments supporting bike connectivity in the area, made quite an impression. I didn’t get something up sooner because the meeting went until midnight and my brain was pretty fried after the process.

I still haven’t had time to give the complete analysis the night and the issue deserves, but I’ll go into a few things for those who were wondering outcomes.

Read the entire post here

Action Alert, Agensys

Cynthia Rose — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:11:05 +0000

AgensysActionAlert

KEY MEETING FOR AGENSYS BIKE PATH ON WEDNESDAY!

Planning Commission meeting

Wednesday, September 1, 7PM

City Council – first vote

Tuesday, September 14 – time will be posted later

City Council – final vote

Tuesday, September 28th time will be posted later

All meetings held at:

Santa Monica City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2nd floor

SM Civic Center, 1685 Main St, Santa Monica

The very important vote by the Planning Commission on the Agensys project will be this Wednesday. We we would like them to approve it with the condition that it include a bike path within the parcel. City Council and the Planning Commission have previously directed city staff to work with Agensys to include a bike path as part of the project. Agensys has ruled out any proposals for putting the bike path on the site, saying it poses too many difficulties. Senior city staff seem unwilling to push any harder for this key benefit. It appears Agensys believes they are offering enough and that they have the votes within the City Council to receive final approval later this month.

We have demonstrated and believe there are clearly ways to include a bike path within the project and must convince council of this. Promising alternatives have been identified for integrating the bike path and deserve to be explored further. On Wednesday we need the Planning Commission to support this. For more information see the complete Agensys article written by Barbara Filet and Kent Strumpell on the Santa Monica Spoke website.

There must be a strong showing from the bicycle community at the Wednesday meeting demonstrating support for a viable solution and to overcome the reluctance by Agensys for a bike path within their project along with the city’s reluctance to push this important issue.

PLEASE COME, speak if you can.

We also need you to send an emails (email address below) or you use this link ActionAlert-Agensys@SMSpoke.org (Copy/ paste is currently not working for this address) which will forward to city staff, city council and planning commission.

Some key points you can make:

I support the proposed Agensys bike path.
This bike path provides a vital link to bridge the gap in our east-west bikeway network and help connect communities near the project.
Other routes for getting around this project are difficult, hazardous and discourage safe cycling.
This is the first test of the bicycle and connectivity goals called for in the LUCE (Land Use and Circulation Element) plan that we all worked so hard to create.
Leaving the bicycle connectivity out of the development agreement will set a precedent that will tell future developers they don’t have to take LUCE policies seriously.
The other community benefits offered by Agensys are wonderful, but bike access is a vital and needed component to the Agensys project.

Thank you in advance for your support in making Santa Monica a better place to live and bike.

Cynthia Rose

Santa Monica Spoke, chapter LACBC

Steering Committee

We have also provided a letter you can copy and paste voicing your support. Feel free to edit as you wish.

Use this link: ActionAlert-Agensys@SMSpoke.org (do not copy/paste this address)

or use individual address that follow below.

************************************************************************************************************************************************

Dear City Staff, Council, and Planning Commission

I am writing you in support of the proposed bike path and bicycle infrastructure proposed with the Agensys project. This bicycle infrastructure would provide a vital link by bridging the gap in our east-west bikeway network and helps connect communities in and around the project. This is the first real test of the LUCE commitment to active transportation that we have all worked so hard to create and cannot be taken lightly. Leaving bicycle connectivity of some sort out of the development agreement at this time sends a message to future developers that they don’t have to take the LUCE policies seriously when the city fails to enforce them at this first juncture. The Agensys project could not only enhance bicycle connectivity to the Bergamont Rail Station and Village but help reduce the traffic and parking demand in the station and surrounding area. This will also help reduce pollution helping Santa Monica reach its Sustainable City Goals Plan. This access will provide safe routes west to SaMoHi, Santa Monica College, Civic Center, Ocean Park and Main Street Merchants, along with travel to and from Ocean Park Beaches from eastern Santa Monica and Los Angeles as well as other neighborhoods to the east.

For Santa Monica to reach the applied for Silver designation or higher from the League of American Bicyclists for a bicycle-friendly city, (from the current Bronze status) the City must be committed to create more bike routes. With a 50 year lease this proposed redevelopment represents an excellent way for the city to create this vital link in the bicycle infrastructure.

It has been demonstrated and I believe there are clearly ways to include a bike path within this project. Promising alternatives have also been identified for integrating the bike path or other bike facilities that deserve to be explored further. I urge the Planning commission to approve the Agensys project with the condition that it include a bike path within the parcel. City staff and council can then work with Agensys to provide this vital link for alternative, active transportation.

The other community benefits offered by Agensys in this project are wonderful, but bike access is a vital and needed component that will help Santa Monica and its residents reach a more sustainable, and livable city moving forward into the future.

Sincerely,

Your name

address and/or zip – optional

************************************************************************************************************************************************

Send emails to:

Santa Monica Planning Commission: jaypjohnson@earthlink.net, HKoning@KEArch.com, gwynne@pugh-scarpa.com, TedSMPlan@gmail.com, GNewbold@gmail.com, Jim_Ries@hotmail.com, parryj@gte.net,

Planner in charge of project: brad.misner@smgov.net

Santa Monica City Council: Council@smgov.net

City Manager Rod Gould: Rod.Gould@smgov.net

Planning Director Eileen Fogarty: eileen.fogarty@amgov.net

Agensys Lawer Dale Goldsmith: dale@agd-landuse.com

Action Alert: Making a Push At Wednesday Night Planning Commission Meeting

Santa Monica Spoke — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:27:22 +0000

View Agensys Bike Access Issues in a larger map. Based on Barbara Fillet’s diagrams I also plotted out the area onto a google map to help illustrate why connectivity matters here, and how problematic existing alternative routes are going around the block to connect from Stewart, which is already classified a bike route

Planning Commission Meeting
Wednesday, September 1st, 7PM
Santa Monica City Council Chambers, SM Civic Center on Main Street

Things are moving fast and time is ticking on the bike access through proposed Agensys redevelopment of city land issue. The planning commission meeting this week is one of our last chances to voice community support for bike access through the property.

Read complete article on Gary Rides Bikes blog here

Today’s Fun – After Party 7-9 open to all — FREEEE

Santa Monica Spoke — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:28:37 +0000

Cause for Creativity: Tour da Arts, vol. 2

Sunday, August 22, 2010

2:00pm

Pedal on over to SMMoA for the second annual Cause for Creativity: Tour da Arts and Urban Expeditions event!! Festivities include: bike checks, spoke card workshop, live performances, and a closing party.

…

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133424253366284

This Saturday Bikeside Speaks @ Cynergy Bike Shop, Followed By Bike-In Screening Of Disposible Film Festival And An After Party

Gary Kavanagh — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:04:44 +0000

Re-posted from Gary Rides Bikes:

Bikeside Speaks returns with it’s 7 minute talks followed by Q&A, format, this time in Santa Monica. Bikeside is a local activist group actively involved in political campaigning and lobby for cycling issues in the Los Angeles area. I missed Bikeside Speaks the first time around, but this time I will be there, and as one of the speakers. I’ve titled my talk “Redefining Freedom of Mobility Beyond The Motoring Age” and it will incorporate key ideas from some of my recent reading, as well as personal experiences. I want to touch briefly on some historical context of transportation in the United States and Los Angeles, and how driving became synonymous with freedom, an important part of the American ethos, even while restraining freedom for formerly accepted uses of the street. I believe to change our road culture to once again respect pedestrians, cyclists and public transit, we must advance the ways in which these modes can represent freedom, and challenge assumptions that hold the automobile as the dominant symbol of freedom of mobility.

The talk also includes 53rd District Democratic Candidate Betsy Butler, Mike Bower (AKA “Cool Ass Mike”) of 1000 Bikes – a non-profit project to put bikes in the hands of foster kids and their families, and livable streets activist Stephen Box, who is now a candidate for City Council District 4 in LA.

Update, More Speakers:

Terry O’Day, cyclist & Santa Monica City Councilman up for re-election, will talk about Santa Monica’s ongoing bike progress.
Cory Wilkerson, Burbank City Planner, will explain how he crafted an award winning bike plan on a shoe string budget.
Felicia Williams of CICLE will talk about CICLE’s amazing Urban Expeditions ride, and talk you into attending Sunday’s festivities at the Santa Monica Museum of Art.
Alex Thompson will wrap things up with discussing Bikeside’s Life Before License campaign and screening the short video documentary of the Blood In Protest at the Beverly Hills Court House.

In addition to the talk, there will be a screening of the Disposable Film Festival and a Specialized bike raffle, with all proceeds going to Bikeside. I heard a couple of food trucks will be in attendance as well. Should be a fun night, hope you can make it out.

Cynergy Bike Shop
2300 Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404 (map)

6:30pm – 8:30pm Bikeside Speaks! (RSVP on Facebook, Tweet-vite)
8:30pm – 11pm “bike-in” screening by the Disposable Film Festival (RSVP on Facebook)
After party at the Hotel Erwin on Venice Beach (map)

Update: An Additional Meeting On Tuesday Night To Discuss Santa Monica Ciclovia Planning, and Same Night Issue Is Tacked To End Of City Council Agenda

Gary Kavanagh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:35:37 +0000

Things are coming together fast. In addition to the Monday night bike committee meeting, Tuesday night there will also be a specific committee meeting on Santa Monica Ciclovia proposal, to start ground work for planning, also at the Ken Edwards Center, from 6-8pm. The same evening, as a final item on the agenda, the City Council will also be discussing moving forward with Ciclovia. If you’re local and not going to the event in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, there are great opportunities here to voice support for bringing a Ciclovia to Santa Monica. I’m pretty amazed actually how quickly this is all coming together, and have to hand it to Richard McKinnen (and McKeown for appointing Richard to the parks commission) for being a big part of jump starting this.

Monday: The New Bike Committee Of The Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission Is Meeting

Gary Kavanagh — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:45:44 +0000

On Monday night is the first public meeting of the newly formed bike committee of the Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission. Committee members Phil Brock and Richard McKinnon (also on Spoke steering committee) will be putting together an agenda of bike issues to be brought before the rest of the commission and eventually the council. If you have praise, complaints, suggestions, or general input on cycling issues in Santa Monica, Monday’s meeting will be an official avenue for such input.

The Bike Committee of the Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission is meeting:
7 pm Monday July 26 at the Ken Edwards Center

Santa Monica Spoke meeting tonight!

Santa Monica Spoke — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:31:35 +0000

Dont’ for get to come and and join us this evening for the first of our regular monthly meetings

Date: 16 June, 2010

Day: Wednesday

Time: 6:30pm

Place: 502 Colorado Ave, corner of 5th and Colorado in Santa Monica, enter through gate on Colorado

Bike parking on the patio, car parking on the street and in city structures

Hope to see you there!!

The LUCE at City Council

Cynthia Rose — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:37:21 +0000

The Santa Monica City Council will continue its series of special public hearings on the Draft Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) today, June 15^th at 5:45PM. The purpose of these hearings is to determine the final contents of the LUCE, and adopt the Plan and its associated Environmental Impact Report.

Future special meetings of the City Council dealing with the LUCE are on the following dates:

Tuesday, June 15 – Special Council meeting, Budget Adoption AND LUCE meeting – 5:45 p.m.

1. Community Benefits
2. Housing Strategy
3. Employment Strategy
4. Fiscal Impact of Future Land Uses

Thursday, June 24 – Special LUCE meeting – 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

1. Final EIR
2. Districts
3. Activity Centers
4. Mix of Uses
5. Heights

Thursday, July 1 – Special LUCE meeting – 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

1. Sustainability/Monitoring & Implementation
2. Heights
3. Deliberation

Tuesday, July 6 – Special LUCE meeting – 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

1. Deliberation
2. Adoption of Final LUCE/Certification of Final EIR

If you would like to learn more about the comprehensive vision for the City’s Land Use and Transportation policy, or if you would like to voice your comments on the content of the Plan, please consider going TODAY, June 15^th, 2010 at 5:45 p.m. in Council Chambers (City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica 90401).

If you have any questions about the plan or the public process, please write to shapethefuture2025@smgov.net