City of Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California
Proclamation
WHEREAS, the bicycle is an economical, healthy, convenient, and environmentally sound form of transportation and an excellent tool for recreation and enjoyment of Santa Maria’s scenic beauty; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Maria facilitates and promotes bicycling through: our Public Works Department which creates and maintains bike lanes, paths, signs and signals, our Utilities Department which sweeps bicycle lanes clean, our GIS Department wh ich facilitates reporting of needed maintenance, our Community Development Department which makes sure developments have adequate short and long -term bicycle parking, our Rec reation & Parks Department which maintains bicycle paths and trims City trees and bushes adjoining bicycle paths and lanes and facilitates bicycling events, our Code Enforcement Department which facilitates the trimming of trees and bushes on private property and the proper placement of garbage cans (not in bike lanes), our Police Depar tment which enforces no parking in bicycle lanes and helps protect bicyclists from children to seniors as well as patrolling on bicycles themselves, our Public Library which lends b ooks of how to repair and safely ride bicycles as well as books and movies of bicycle adventures, our schools which teach children to bicycle and the City Council which considers and passes budgets and ordinances to protect and regulate bicycling in our fair city; and
WHEREAS, creating a bicycling -friendly community has been sho wn to improve citizens’ health, well -being, and quality of life, grow the economy of Santa Maria, improve traffic safety, support student learning outcomes, and reduce pollution, collisions, congestion, and wear and tear on our streets and roads; and
WHEREAS, throughout May, the residents of Santa Maria and its visitors will experience the joys of bicycling through educational programs, commuting events, special bicycle rides, art, film and by simply getting out and going for a ride collectively known as CycleMAYnia; and
WHEREAS, CalBike, MOVE Santa Barbara County, the League of American Bicyclists, schools, our recreation and park department, Santa Maria Valley Chamber, companies , and civic groups will be promoting bicycling during May.
NOW, THEREFORE, I , ALICE M. PATINO, Mayor of the City of Santa Maria hereby proclaim the month of May 2024, as:
“NATIONAL BIKE MONTH”
in the City of Santa Maria, and urge all residents to join me in celebrating bicycling.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Seal of the City of Santa Maria to be affixed hereto this 7th day of May 2024.
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Alice M. Patino, Mayor