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SMC Bike Paths and Parking

Due to SMC’s high bike ridership, we are a target for bike theft. The easiest way to protect your bike against theft is to properly lock your bike. See this our tips for stopping bike (pdf) theft for more information. Don’t forget to register your bike with the SMC police department. This will ensure your bike gets back to you if it is impounded or stolen.

Santa Monica College has an active bicycle community. Riding your bike is a great alternative to sitting in traffic and then looking for a parking space…especially with gas prices on the rise! However, biking in Los Angeles can be challenging. Be sure to plan ahead by mapping the safest route possible and following basic safety measures listed below.

Santa Monica College Bike and bus routes.

Bike and Bus Paths - Big Blue Bus and Bike Map.
Local Bike Paths - City of Santa Monica Bike Map and Safety information.
SMC Bike Parking - Santa Monica College Main Campus Map w/ Bike parking only.

Safety Tips

We can make bicycling safer for all by observing the following safety tips:

* Always wear a helmet
* Obey all traffic controls
* Ride your bicycle near the right-hand edge of the road
* Never carry another person on your bicycle
* Always use hand signals when turning or stopping
* Bike defensively: look out for cars at cross street, driveways, and parking places
* Be careful when checking traffic and don’t swerve when looking over your shoulder
* Give pedestrians the right-of-way
* Keep your bicycle in good condition
* Always ride carefully

Remember a bicycle is a vehicle. Bicyclists share a complex traffic environment with other larger forms of transportation.

Additional safety tips:

http://bicyclesafe.com/
http://www.rtis.com/reg/bcs/org/bvcweb/bvc-tips.htm

Join the yahoo group for Los Angeles Bike paths: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/bikepaths/

Stop by the Santa Monica College Center for Environmental and Urban Studies to learn more about biking SMC!

revised August 25, 2011