May is Bike Month, and this year, the San Gabriel Valley came alive with energy, movement, and community connection. From scenic rides and youth-led advocacy to carshare launches and crop swaps, May was a celebration of how much we can accomplish when we move together. With every event, we saw more people getting involved, more conversations about access and sustainability, and more joy in reclaiming our streets and public spaces.
We kicked off the month with our Easy Access Ride, an inclusive group ride welcoming people of all abilities. Starting from the Jeff Seymour Family Center, participants cruised along city streets and bike paths, enjoying a peaceful morning ride and experiencing firsthand how accessible infrastructure creates opportunities for everyone to move safely. The following weekend, our Merced Avenue Greenway Ride took us through the future site of the infrastructure project. Riders learned how stormwater will be captured, filtered, and used to support local landscaping. After visiting the project site, the group made its way to Legg Lake for a much-needed and relaxing break from the extraordinary heat wave with a paddle boat ride at Legg Lake. Floating on the lake fed by cleaned stormwater from Merced Avenue, the experience brought the project full circle and highlighted how thoughtful design can create spaces that are both functional and fun.
Mid-month, we returned to the Jeff Seymour Family Center for another Easy Access Ride, this time heading to Cultiva LA Farms in South El Monte. The ride provided participants with an opportunity to explore the Emerald Necklace network and connect with local food justice initiatives. At the farm, we were greeted by José and his team for a warm, informal tour and food tastings, reinforcing how vital it is to have places like Cultiva LA in our own backyard.
We wrapped up Bike Month with the Mission at Twilight Exploratory Ride, a morning preview of our upcoming Active Streets event. Riders enjoyed a leisurely roll along the planned open streets route, taking in local landmarks and imagining what the area could look like with streets fully open to people and free of cars. The ride offered a taste of what’s to come and built excitement for our next open streets event.
This month also marked the launch of two major initiatives supporting clean and affordable mobility in the SGV. In partnership with the City of South El Monte, ActiveSGV helped officially launch the SGV Carshare program, inviting residents to test-drive electric Kia Konas, connect with city leaders, and learn how to sign up. ActiveSGV also introduced the GoSGV REAP Equity Membership—an affordable, $75/year or $6.26/month e-bike subscription for income-qualified residents. With support from SCAG and the California Department of Housing and Community Development, this new option expands access to safe, sustainable transportation across our region.
Off the bike paths, May was packed with meaningful community events. Our LA Food Equity team hosted a Crop Swap at Lopez Urban Farm’s Art Fest, where neighbors exchanged homegrown produce, shared gardening tips, and celebrated local food systems. At the first community workshop for the Merced Avenue Stormwater Capture Project, over 35 residents attended to provide feedback on the design plans and learn more about the project’s goals. Later, volunteers returned to the corridor to help beautify the space, picking up litter and planting greenery as part of a collective effort to reimagine this key neighborhood street.
Schoolyards and youth leadership were also in the spotlight. At San Rafael Elementary School, we joined students to celebrate the completion of a vibrant new mural featuring native plants and fauna. Created as part of the Cygnet Project, the mural was painted with help from the students themselves and now brightens up the campus with a message of environmental stewardship. Meanwhile, our Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) fellows wrapped up their fellowship program with a graduation celebration at Mary Van Dyke Park in South El Monte. These young leaders conducted walk audits, learned about bike safety, and explored active transportation models in nearby cities.
We also hosted another edition of our Active Social series—this month’s topic: Pure Water Southern California. Community members gathered to learn about the regional water recycling initiative and explore ways to participate in shaping its future. With interactive displays, good food, and great conversations, the event made space for learning and action around one of the most critical issues facing our region.
May served as a reminder of what’s possible when people come together with a purpose. Whether it was on a bike ride, at a mural celebration, in a public meeting, or swapping produce at a local farm, every event this month reflected a shared vision for a more connected, healthy, and resilient San Gabriel Valley.
Bike Month may be over, but the wheels are still turning. June brings another exciting lineup of events, including our very first evening open streets celebration—Active Streets: Mission at Twilight—presented by Metro and hosted by the SGVCOG. We can’t wait to welcome you to the streets for an evening of community, movement, and celebration. To stay informed about all upcoming rides, events, and opportunities to get involved, follow us on social media or sign up for our monthly newsletter.
