The best Bike Month celebrations are the ones that celebrate a new project or new law. Yesterday Santa Monica was home to one such celebration.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath led a community bike ride that celebrated a newly opened dedicated two-way bike lane and pedestrian path that connects improvements in Santa Monica to Will Rogers State Beach, enhancing safety along the popular beach path.
While the Marvin Braude Bike Trail did extend all the way to the beach, the last .6 miles of the trail was narrow, lacked adequate lighting and had a shared space for bicyclists and pedestrians. Improved lighting and rest areas were added as part of the project.
“The Marvin Braude Trail is a Los Angeles County gem, beloved as a destination for pedestrians and recreation as well as a commuter corridor for cyclists,” said Supervisor Horvath in a statement. “Los Angeles County has invested in making the path safer and more enjoyable for those on foot and bike.”
The Marvin Braude Trail is a 22-mile path that stretches along the Los Angeles County coastline, from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades to Torrance. This project made safety improvements to .6 miles of the path “closing the gap” by connecting the City of Santa Monica’s dedicated bikeway and pedestrian path through the City of Los Angeles to Will Rogers State Beach.
In 2019 and 2020, the City of Santa Monica invested over $12 million dollars to improve the beach bike path in the area just south of this project from Muscle Beach to Santa Monica City limits. That project included new lighting, and pavement and off-path seating. The Marvin Braude “gap closure” project includes the same amenities.
