Los Angeles Streetsblog (la.streetsblog.org) is hiring a writer who will contribute a  weekly column that covers transportation and livability issues in Santa Monica.

Your expected qualities:

• Knowledge of progressive urban planning and transportation policy


• Familiarity with Santa Monica city government

Stories will cover, specific to the city of Santa Monica:

• New transportation projects


• Political and community leaders in the area


• Transit-oriented development


• Open space and parks


• Other issues that impact the public health and access to public space

This is for a freelance contractor, publishing at least once a week. Funding is secure for at least one year. Depending on Streetsblog raising additional funding, there is some possibility for extending and/or expanding the position.

Anyone interested should contact Damien Newton at damien@streetsblog.org. All applications should include a letter of interest and two writing samples. Applications due by Close of Business on February 7.

The brand-new Santa Monica Bike Center hosted the official grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, November 18th.  Speeches were given by: Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom, Metro Deputy CEO Paul Taylor and Metro Board Members Zev Yaroslavsky & Pam O’Connor, Cynthia Rose from Santa Monica Spoke, and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition's Jennifer Klausner.

Mayor Bloom stated during his opening remarks “This new bike center, built from scratch into a major development site will provide commuters and recreational riders with all the amenities they need to better access downtown Santa Monica car-free.”

The Santa Monica Bike Center features the following ammenities and services:

-over 350 secure bicycle parking spaces

-showers

-lockers

-towel service

-bicycle sharing program

-segway sharing program

-bike rentals

-bicycle tours

-segway tours

Sustainable Streets will be offering a number of courses and clinics at the Bike Center including:

-Confident City Cycling

-Transportation Demand Management (TDM) seminars

-Employer and community bicycling outreach

-Bicycle Educaiton and Encouragement Programs (BEEP)

Sign up for a membership to the Santa Monica Bike Center here: http://activenet20.active.com/smbikecenter/

More info on the Santa Monica Bike Center can be found here: http://www.smbikecenter.com

Photos from the opening can be viewed on the Santa Monica Bike Center facebook page: http://on.fb.me/rtrytC