When the Expo Line to Santa Monica officially opens May 20, people riding bikes who want to connect with Metro’s newest rail extension can park their bikes at 130 new bicycle racks and lockers at seven new stations.
A single bike rack can accommodate two bikes and a locker can hold one bike. Here’s a breakdown of bike racks and lockers on the Expo Line’s seven new stations between Culver City and Santa Monica:
Palms Station: 6 bike racks, 8 bike lockers
Westwood/Rancho Park Station: 6 bike racks, 8 lockers
Expo/Sepulveda Station: 10 bike racks, 16 lockers
Expo/Bundy Station: 10 bike racks, 16 lockers
26th St/Bergamot Station: 6 bike racks, 8 lockers
17th St/SMC Station: 10 bike racks, 32 lockers
Downtown Santa Monica Station: 10 bike racks
Metro has an agreement with the city of Santa Monica to encourage secure bicycle parking at the Santa Monica Bike Center at 1555 2nd Street – one block from the Downtown Santa Monica Expo Station.
Previously funded by Metro through a $2-million grant in 2011, the Santa Monica Bike Center’s two locations provide nearly 360 secure bicycle parking spaces. The center also offers bicycle tours and rentals, showers, lockers, self-service repairs, vending machines and restrooms for members. The Santa Monica Bike Center will offer a 15 percent discount on bicycle locks and other bicycle accessories for Expo Line bike riders who mention the “BikeExpo” promotion code when visiting the center.
Additional secure bicycle parking is also being planned for the Culver City Expo Line Station. The Culver City Metro Bike Hub is planned for the corner of Venice and Robertson boulevards and will be a secure-access bike parking facility that will offer bike repair, retail sales of parts/accessories and restroom facilities for registered users. It is scheduled to open in late 2017.
Metro’s website has complete information on bike parking. The agency has created a webpage in which bicyclists can register and pay for lockers. A Metro Bike Hub link on the same page provides additional information about other planned bike hub locations. Visit the website at metro.net/bikes/.
Metro encourages people using bike racks to securely lock their bikes using heavy-duty locks to deter theft. People should lock the frame to the bike rack with a U-Lock if possible and avoid cable locks, which can be compromised. Wheels and any other quick release components should be secured with an additional bike lock or other tamper-proof hardware. Bicyclists should not lock bikes to station railings or furnishings, as the bikes will be subject to removal.
If people bring their bicycle on the train to reach their destination, they should look for the designated open area of the train that accommodates bikes and other large items and should stand with their bikes. Blocking doors or aisle ways with bicycles is not permitted. If a train is too full to accommodate another bicycle, people should wait for the next train.
Bicycle riders can now access Expo Line stations via a new bikeway built by the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority. The new bikeway runs mostly on an exclusive bike path along the rail line between Culver City and Palms stations and between Overland Avenue and 17th St/SMC Station in Santa Monica, with connections to Santa Monica’s bike lane network.
The new bike path includes striping, signage, lighting and landscaping. Cyclists in Culver City can easily connect with the Ballona Creek Bike Path and ride seven miles to the Marvin Braude Bike Trail that runs mostly along the beach for 20 miles between Torrance and Pacific Palisades.
More improvements are planned. The neighborhoods surrounding the Expo/Bundy Station will later this summer see new bike lanes that connect to the Expo Bike Lane, curb extensions, signage and other streetscape improvements.
In Santa Monica, Metro has funded several projects to improve bicycling access to stations, including the Colorado Esplanade, which creates a biking connection to Ocean Avenue, Palisades Park, the Santa Monica Pier and the beach.
As part of the Expo Line opening campaign, Metro will be sending mailers to residents and businesses near the rail line. The mailers will show residents and businesses how to get to the nearest station.
For more information about how to connect to the new Expo Line to Santa Monica via biking or walking, visit metro.net/moreexpo.
