June 5, 2013 - Late Wednesday evening the Monterey Park City Council unanimously adopted a resolution officially supporting the City's participation in the San Gabriel Valley Regional Bicycle Master plan.

In doing so, Mayor Teresa Real-Sebastian and Council Members Wong, Ing and Wong underlined their desire to make the community more bicycle-friendly. Mayor Real-Sebastian shared her desire to be able to comfortably bike around town and her poor experience to date trying to navigate City streets on two wheels. Almost sideswiped while riding on Garfield Ave during a weekend family outing  to a local eatery, the Mayor stated she now only feels comfortable taking her bike out for special events like the City's Earth Day community ride or for special trips outside the City.

In supporting the project, Council Member Ing highlighted the need to educate motorists about bicycle infrastructure, citing his experience driving alongside the Spring St. buffered green lane in downtown Los Angeles. Council Member Wong noted how he used to ride a bike to school as a youth, and how a more bicycle-friendly Monterey Park would benefit public health and the environment.

The Council's support was prefaced by comments from BikeSGV co-founder and Board President Vincent Chang, who upon the urging of the Mayor, took a respite from his duties as Monterey Park City Clerk to provide comment as a resident of the City. Visibly moved by the gravity of a moment he had worked long to realize, Vincent stressed that the project was an opportunity for the City of Monterey Park to become a leader in the region on the issue. 

A copy of the staff report and agenda can be downloaded here or via the City website. 

Several years of hard work by BikeSGV's all volunteer team has paid off with the award of a 3.5 year HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) grant to fund the development of a regional bicycle master plan in the San Gabriel Valley in project years 1-2, and a youth-focused bicycle cooperative in year 3.

In the coming weeks the list of participating communities will be finalized, with each set to receive a bicycle master plan, educational outreach, and assistance with project implementation, all free of charge. More detailed information about the plan, its goals and next steps will be presented by regional plan Project Manager Javier Hernandez at the Monterey Park Transportation Summit on Saturday, June 1 (9-11am), at George Elder Park Community Center, 1950 Wilcox Avenue, Monterey Park, CA 91754. 

Especially if you live, work, or ride in the potential project communities - Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Baldwin Park, El Monte and South El Monte - you can participate at this stage by attending City Council meetings in the coming weeks, when local decision makers will have final say whether their communities participate. 

Save the Dates: City Councils to Consider Formal Resolutions of Support (required for participation)

• June 5th (7pm), Monterey Park City Council Meeting, 320 W. Newmark Ave., Monterey Park 91754, 
• June 11th (7pm), South El Monte Council Meeting, 1415 Santa Anita Ave., South El Monte 91733
• June 18th (5:30pm), El Monte City Council Meeting, 11333 Valley Blvd., EL Monte 91731 
  
• June 19th (7pm), Baldwin Park City Council Meeting, 14403 Pacific Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 
• July 2nd (7:30pm), San Gabriel City Council Meeting, 425 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel 91776