As the summer heat started to dwindle, September became a big month for group rides and tours across the San Gabriel Valley, bringing neighbors together to explore new greenways, celebrate public transit, and experience safer, more connected streets.

Exploring the SGV by Bike and Transit

To celebrate SoCal Transit Month, our Easy Access crew partnered with Metro for a guided tour of the El Monte Transit Center and a 15-mile group ride through the San Gabriel Valley. Participants explored recent transit improvements, rode along the Merced Avenue Greenway, and reflected on how public transportation connects our communities.

This month also marked the 3-year anniversary of GoSGV, the nation’s largest community-based e-bike library. Since its launch in 2022, GoSGV has provided thousands of San Gabriel Valley residents with affordable access to electric bikes, helping reduce car trips, improve air quality, and expand sustainable mobility options. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with our members, partners, and the many riders who continue to make GoSGV a success.

Later in the month, nearly 50 community members joined the RedesignLA + MWD Ride, which included a morning bike and walking tour of the Merced Avenue Greenway and Linear Park. The afternoon gathering at Jeff Seymour Family Center featured presentations and discussions about local water resources, leaving participants inspired about future collaborations.

We also hosted the Corazón del Valle Exploratory Ride, a 9-mile preview of the route for our upcoming open streets event. Riders visited Arceo Park and Mary Van Dyke Park to see community greening efforts in action, then refueled at Cyber Yogurt in South El Monte before wrapping up with a raffle. This was only the beginning, the main event, Active Streets: Corazón del Valle, takes place Sunday, November 2. Participants shared their excitement for our second open streets event of the year.

SGV CarShare and BAAEC CarShare

The Climate Team continued to advance clean mobility through our carshare programs. We hosted a focus group with the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps, where members test drove one of our Hyundai Konas and provided feedback to strengthen SGV CarShare. We also connected with residents through the El Monte-Rosemead Adult School Resource Fair and a presentation to the Clean Air Coalition of Avocado Heights & North Whittier. For BAAEC CarShare, program requirements were expanded to all SGV residents, with weekly costs lowered to $25 through December.

Public Works Equity in Infrastructure

Community members joined us for a focus group on LA County Public Works’ draft equity framework. Participants emphasized the need for stronger language access and clearer communication about the agency’s role. Attendees enjoyed bánh mì sandwiches, refreshments, and gift cards as a thank-you for their input. Public comments remain open through October.

Food Equity and Education

Our LA Food Equity team stayed busy this month. At the September Active Social, we partnered with Nature for All to host a native gardening workshop where participants learned how to start their own gardens, prepared a warm lentil salad with native herbs, and received native plants generously donated by one participant from his own garden. The event felt even more special with these community contributions, and we also shared resources about Power Saver Rewards to help households save energy and money while supporting the environment.

In addition to the gardening and food demo, our team launched a new nutrition education workshop series at the Exchange at Gateway. Residents are learning how to make healthier choices and trying out nutrient-packed recipes that can be easily prepared at home.

Supporting Care First Community Investment

ActiveSGV joined the LA County Board of Supervisors meeting to voice support for Tier 1 Care First Community Investment funding. These dollars have delivered over 5.5 million pounds of food to more than 1.1 million residents since 2020. While funding remains uncertain, we remain committed to ensuring these critical programs continue and speaking out for the communities we serve.

Montebello Walk and Ride

To help shape the Washington Corridor Transit-Oriented Communities/Multimodal Connectivity Specific Plan, ActiveSGV planned a community walk and bike ride. Participants shared ideas about safer sidewalks, new bike routes, housing near transit, and more. Their feedback is guiding plans for the future Metro E Line Greenwood Station and beyond.

Moving into the last quarter of 2025, ActiveSGV will continue building on these efforts with more rides, workshops, and community events. Stay connected by signing up for our newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming opportunities to get involved.