Santa Monica is embarking on a celebration of transportation that does more than just get us from point A to point B. The city has lined up a series of events in September and October to show support for safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation options. Dubbed Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Week, happening from September 16-20, 2024, the initiative is part of a long-standing effort to improve air quality, ease traffic congestion, and enhance mobility for all of its residents, employees, and visitors.
According to an official city post on Santa Monica's website, they've been at it since 1991 with the formation of a comprehensive TDM approach, showing significant advancements in policy and programming. The City Council had given a boost to the initiative with a Proclamation at the September 10 council meeting. Adding to the push for sustainable transit solutions, there's the GoSaMo Commuter Preferences Survey, seeking to capture habits and preferences around commuting in Santa Monica with a deadline of September 27 for responses.
Following TDM Week, Santa Monica invites locals to join a #WeekWithoutDriving Challenge slated for September 30 to October 6. The idea is to encourage public empathy for community members who aren't able to drive and to inspire change in transportation habits and policies. Supporting residents in this endeavor, the City is offering free 7-day passes on the Big Blue Bus to participants who pledge to go car-free for the week and send in a confirmation screenshot. The challenge is part of a broader movement, and details on how to participate and where to submit details have been shared by the city for those interested.
Later in October, during the week of the 7th to the 11th, Santa Monica puts a spotlight on the youth with the Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! week. It's an initiative to get K-12 students to use eco-friendly transport methods. Students within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District have got a free pass on this one - literally. They can ride for free on Big Blue Bus, Metro, and other transit agencies in the county throughout their school year, which includes this week dedicated to sustainable transportation. For a helping of knowledge, a reading list on transportation and infrastructure has been curated, with selections available at the Santa Monica Public Library.
Different voices are coming together to echo the City's call for a year-round commitment to safer, cleaner pathways. Santa Monica is encouraging its people to share their commute experiences on social media, hoping to promote a more connected and conscious community. The hashtags to follow and use are #GoSaMo, #TaketheFriendlyRoad, #BiWiBi, and #WeekWithoutDriving. Interested parties can find more details on Santa Monica's various sustainable transportation initiatives by visiting their official webpage.
