Move sustainably around Santa Monica this fall

September 11, 2026 2:30 PM
by Jacqui Swartz

This fall, try leaving the car behind for one trip, one commute or one day and discover a different way to experience Santa Monica. 

Walking, biking, taking Big Blue Bus and sharing a ride can make everyday travel more affordable and active. These choices also help improve local air quality, reduce traffic and parking demand, and create safer, more welcoming streets for everyone. 

You don't have to give up driving altogether to participate. Start with one trip that fits your life. 

Make one trip differently 

Consider a trip you take regularly or a destination you plan to visit this fall. Could you: 

• Take Big Blue Bus to work, school, an appointment or a day out? 
• Walk or bike to a nearby business, park or neighborhood destination? 
• Combine transit with walking, biking or shared mobility? 
• Carpool with a coworker, classmate, friend or neighbor? 
• Choose a sustainable way to travel to a community event? 

Even a small change can reveal new possibilities. A bus ride can mean skipping the search and cost of parking while using the travel time to read, listen to music or relax. Walking and biking can turn a short errand into time outdoors. Combining different options can make a trip more flexible than relying on a single way of traveling. 

A season of opportunities 

September and October offer many reasons to give sustainable transportation a try! 

September marks SoCal Transit Month, a regional celebration that encourages regular riders and those who do not often use transit to get on board. It is also California Pedestrian Safety Month, a reminder that everyone has a role in making streets safer for people walking, biking, rolling, taking transit and driving. 

On Sept. 21, Zero Emissions Day invites people to give the planet a day off from gas-powered travel. Consider replacing one car trip with a walk, bike ride, shared ride or trip on Big Blue Bus. 

The momentum continues in October with Rideshare Month, Week Without Driving, Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week and California Clean Air Day. Together, these initiatives offer several ways to participate, whether you change one trip or try an entirely different routine. 

See your community from a different perspective 

From Oct. 1 through Oct. 8, Week Without Driving invites people who drive to experience how they would complete everyday trips without relying on a personal vehicle. 

For more than one-third of people in the United States, not driving is part of daily life because of disability, age, economic circumstances or other reasons. Week Without Driving offers an opportunity to better understand those experiences while learning what works well within the transportation network and where barriers remain. 

Try making the trips you would ordinarily make, such as traveling to work, buying groceries, keeping an appointment or meeting a friend. Pay attention to the full experience. Was the route easy to plan? Were stops, sidewalks and crossings accessible? Did you feel safe and comfortable throughout the trip? 

The goal is not to complete a perfect car-free week. It's to experience everyday travel from a new perspective and consider how Santa Monica can continue building a more connected and accessible community. 

Make the school trip part of the lesson 

During Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week, held Oct. 5 - 9, Santa Monica K-12 students can ride Big Blue Bus for free. 

Walking, biking and riding transit can make the school trip more active while helping reduce congestion during arrival and dismissal. These trips can also help students build confidence and become more familiar with their community. 

Families who are trying a new route can practice it together first. Identify the bus stop, walking route or bike connection in advance, discuss where extra care may be needed and leave enough time for an unhurried trip. 

Ride free on California Clean Air Day 

Big Blue Bus will offer free rides for everyone on Oct. 7 in recognition of California Clean Air Day. 

Transportation choices affect the air we all breathe. Walking, biking, taking transit, sharing a ride and using zero-emission vehicles can all help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. 

If you haven't taken Big Blue Bus recently, Clean Air Day is an opportunity to try it at no cost. Choose a familiar destination, plan your route and see how transit could fit into more of your trips. 

Preparing for more electric travel 

For trips that require a vehicle, switching to an electric vehicle is another way to reduce transportation-related emissions. Expanding access to convenient charging at homes and workplaces is an important part of making that transition possible. 

The city’s Clean Energy Team is offering two free online webinars for property owners and managers interested in installing electric vehicle chargers. 

The first webinar, focused on multifamily housing, will take place Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Register for the multifamily housing webinar. 

A second webinar for commercial properties and projects involving five or more chargers will take place Thursday, Sept. 24, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Register for the commercial property webinar. 

Both sessions will cover assessing demand, navigating installation and permitting, selecting charging equipment, and setting up pricing and billing. 

Stay visible as the days get shorter 

Autumn’s shorter days are also a good time to refresh safe travel habits. 

Drivers should slow down and actively watch for people walking, biking and rolling, especially at intersections and crossings. People biking should use front and rear lights after dark. Everyone should stay alert, avoid distractions and allow extra time to see and be seen. 

Small, considerate actions help make Santa Monica’s streets safer for people of all ages and abilities. 

Your sustainable autumn starts with one trip 

Choose one trip this fall that you would normally make by car. Walk, bike, take Big Blue Bus or share the ride and see how a different way of getting around fits into your life. 

You may discover a trip that is more affordable, more enjoyable or simply easier than you expected. 

Explore more ways to get around Santa Monica and learn more about Sustainable September.

Authored By

Jacqui Swartz
Transportation Planning Associate

Categories

Getting Around, Programs, Sustainable and Connected, Ways to Get Around