5 Ways to Get Around Santa Monica This Summer
June 26, 2019 9:49 AM
by Miranda Iglesias
Get out of your car and enjoy Santa Monica in the summer sun! Not only are you helping lower carbon emissions, but you can see and immerse yourself in our highly walkable and vibrant community.
1. Ride Big Blue Bus Route 45 to the Beach, Pier or Promenade
Say hello to summer from Big Blue Bus’s Route 45! From the train to the pier to shopping, you haven’t experienced Santa Monica until you try this new route. Route 45 is a summer-only pilot service that will provide easy connections from the Downtown Santa Monica Expo Line Station to major destinations, including the iconic Santa Monica Pier and beach, the world-renowned Third Street Promenade, and many hotels, restaurants and shops.
2. Bike Your Way through Summer with Breeze Bike Share
Looking for a green and hassle-free way to get around Santa Monica this summer? Go green and sign up for Breeze Bike Share. Southern California’s first bike share system, the City of Santa Monica launched the program in November 2015.
Breeze operates on Social Bicycles’ “smart bike system.” The GPS-enabled bikes give you flexibility and options. With a Breeze smart bike, you can: lock a bike anywhere (fees may apply), find/reserve bikes on the web or mobile app in real time, and return and lock to a Breeze station, or a rack within 100 feet if the station is already full.
Check out the different Breeze Bike Share plans to see what works for you.
3. Take Metro’s Expo Line to Downtown Santa Monica
Looking for a super-fast way to beat traffic and get to downtown Santa Monica? Use your TAP card at one of three Metro stations and transfer to one of Big Blue Bus’s route or grab a Breeze Bike to the beach.
If you traveling to Santa Monica from downtown Los Angeles, make sure to plan ahead! Metro is upgrading the Blue and Expo Lines this summer. Two Expo Line Stations will be out of service between LATTC/Ortho Institute Station and 7th St/Metro Center starting June 22 through late August 2019. Click here, to learn more about these closures.
4. Scoot Safely Using Santa Monica’s Shared Mobility Devices
If you are looking for an efficient and low-cost way to get around town, consider an e-scooter or e-bike device with four operators providing service as part of Santa Monica’s Shared Mobility Pilot Program. While these are zippy and fun, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road and Santa Monica’s efforts to ensure you scoot into summer safely.
5. Give Yourself Extra Time, Walk and Explore Your Neighborhood
On summer break or have a free afternoon? Take a walk around your neighborhood or explore a Santa Monica park. One of the newest projects to check out in Santa Monica are neighborhood walking loops. The Walk Loop Project, a GoSaMo initiative to create neighborhood walking loops throughout the city, is a partnership with the City and Adopt-A-Walk. These one-mile walking loops aim to enhance mobility, promote health and wellbeing, create opportunities for discovery and inspiration, and strengthen community connections.
The first walk loop will open in the Wilmont Neighborhood this Saturday, June 29 at 1 p.m. Click here to learn more and join your Santa Monica neighbors.
For more ways to get around and to get tips on how to get started, visit www.gosamo.org.
Authored By
Miranda Iglesias
Public Information Coordinator