(top) Santa Monica Councilmember Kevin McKeown leads a group ride from City Hall to the grand opening of the brand new, full-service “Santa Monica Bike Center” at 1555 2nd Street on Friday, November 18, 2011. (above) Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom with Council members Pam OConnor and Kevin McKeown, former mayor Nathaniel Trives, President/CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Laurel Rosen and L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky cut the ribbon during to the grand opening of the of the brand new, full-service Santa Monica Bike Center on Friday, November 18, 2011.
The City of Santa Monica, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), celebrated the grand opening of the largest bicycle facility of its kind in the United States. The bike center’s two combined locations in the center of downtown Santa Monica feature 5,300 square-feet of space and nearly 360 secure bicycle parking spaces. The facilities also provide bicycle rentals, showers, lockers, self-service repairs, vending and restrooms. The Metro-funded project is expected to increase bike/transit connections for work and play to and from Santa Monica, a popular beachfront destination and bike-riding capital of Southern California.