Next week, Santa Monica will celebrate its most environmentally-friendly local businesses at the 20th annual Sustainable Quality Awards and the Santa Monica Bike Center wants to sponsor the first 35 people who pledge to arrive on bike.
On Thursday April 16, about 250 people are expected to join the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, and Sustainable Works, in celebrating more than a dozen businesses that are leading the way in sustainability, including the three grand prize winners, Capital Intelligence Associates, Locanda del Lago, and the Shore Hotel.
Highlight the role of active transportation supported by the city’s Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE), the Bike Center wants to get at least 14 percent of the anticipated 250 guests to arrive on bike Thursday.
“With Santa Monica becoming increasingly sustainable, as celebrated by these awards, we’re seeing sustainable mobility rise — with a 67% increase in bike ridership over just two years,” said Mayor Kevin McKeown in a press release Wednesday.
Santa Monica adopted its Bike Action Plan in 2011 in order to implement the sustainable transportation goals in the LUCE, adding miles of bike lanes and sharerows to city streets as well as the Bike Center in Downtown. The plan, which has been largely successful in increasing the number of people who ride bikes in Santa Monica, also includes education components for road users in order to promote safety.
“The Chamber has been a longtime supporter of bike initiatives in Santa Monica, and we see the value of our business members supporting programs that help reach City goals,” said Laurel Rosen, president of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.
Register to ride your bike at www.SMSQA.com, and join the employees of the Santa Monica Bike Center and other locals for a short ride to the event. Meet at the Santa Monica Bike Center on 4th and Broadway at 10:30am to roll together. Contact outreach@smbikecenter.com for more information about the ride.
