Santa Monica Spoke

What Santa Monica Spoke does

Santa Monica Spoke is a California-based nonprofit advocacy organization focused on improving walking, biking, and active transportation in Santa Monica. Founded as a community-based group, it operates a hybrid model combining grassroots organizing with formal policy advocacy: it runs free community bike rides (Kidical Mass), educational programs (Rules of the Road, crash response, pedicab certification), social events (HandleBar Happy Hours), and an annual Bike Month that in 2026 featured 42+ scheduled events. The organization also operates free Bike Index bike registration and serves as the on-the-ground coalition voice for Vision Zero, Safe Routes to School, and protected bike-lane projects.

The organization's core activity is advocacy and stakeholder mobilization in municipal planning processes rather than the sale of commercial products or services. It supports — and in several cases has helped shepherd to approval — specific infrastructure projects including the Santa Monica Blvd Safety Study Plan, Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANGo), the East Pico Safety Project, the Broadway Protected Bike Lane, and Bergamot Area First/Last Mile Safety Improvements. Its technology footprint is limited to a WordPress website (smspoke.org), an email newsletter, social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Flickr), the Bike Index registration integration, and Google Maps for event promotion; there are no proprietary software products, APIs, or data platforms indicated.

Santa Monica Spoke is funded entirely through donations and community membership contributions; all programs are provided free of charge, and no financial details are disclosed in the available data. It works in close coordination with the City of Santa Monica (including the Mayor and City Council, Mobility Division, and Public Works), Big Blue Bus (the local transit agency), LA Metro, LACBC, the SaMo Safe Streets Alliance, the Buy Local Santa Monica committee, and the Great Park Coalition, with sub-brands GoSaMo and BikeLocalSM supporting outreach campaigns.

Name

Santa Monica Spoke

Legal name

Santa Monica Spoke

Website

https://smspoke.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Santa Monica Spoke is a Santa Monica, California nonprofit that advocates for safer walking and biking through free community rides, education, and coalition-driven support for active-transportation infrastructure projects across the city.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Transportation Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)

Keywords

• Bicycle advocacy services
• Active transportation promotion
• Community cycling programs
• Bike safety education
• Pedestrian infrastructure advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Volunteer-supported organization funded through donations and community membership contributions

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Santa Monica Spoke is a community-based nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes walking, biking, and active transportation in Santa Monica. It delivers free community bike rides, educational programs on bike safety and rules of the road, bike registration, and advocacy campaigns supporting protected bike lanes, pedestrian safety upgrades, and Vision Zero initiatives in partnership with the City of Santa Monica.

Product overview

Santa Monica Spoke is a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on making Santa Monica a better place to walk, bike, and play. The organization does not offer commercial products or services; instead, it provides community programs, educational initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and hosts public events to promote active transportation and safer streets. Their activities include organizing family bike rides (Kidical Mass), hosting HandleBar Happy Hour social events at local businesses, running Bike Month programs and promotions, offering bike safety education and registration, and advocating for bike infrastructure improvements such as protected bike lanes, pedestrian safety upgrades, and Vision Zero initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SaMo Safe Streets Alliance: Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance is a coalition partner and category used for events and advocacy.
• GoSaMo
• BikeLocalSM

Products and services

• Kidical Mass Community Bike Rides Free family-oriented community bike rides and bike parades designed for riders of all ages, including children, hosted at local parks with activities such as helmet decorating, community resources, and themed rides.
• Bike Month Celebrations Annual month-long celebration of cycling in Santa Monica featuring 42+ events including community rides, educational programs, advocacy events, and pitstops such as Bike Anywhere Day, supported by the City of Santa Monica proclamation.
• Free Bike Registration via Bike Index Free bike registration service connecting Santa Monica cyclists to Bike Index, helping riders register their bicycles to aid in theft deterrence and recovery.
• Bike Safety Education Resources Free educational resources covering Rules of the Road, what to do in a crash, pedicab certification, and general bike safety information for cyclists of all levels.
• Vision Zero and Safe Streets Advocacy Advocacy and coalition work supporting Vision Zero initiatives, protected bike lanes, pedestrian safety upgrades, and major local infrastructure projects including MANGo (Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway), East Pico Safety Project, Broadway Protected Bike Lane, and Bergamot Area First/Last Mile Safety Improvements.

Quantifiable outcome

• City Council approved Santa Monica Blvd Safety Study Plan following advocacy support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Santa MonicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with City of Santa Monica including Mobility Division, Public Works, and City Council. Works together on infrastructure projects, safety studies, and city planning. Supported Santa Monica Blvd Safety Study Plan approved at May 12, 2026 City Council meeting. Mayor Caroline Torosis proclaimed May 2026 as Bike Month.
• Big Blue BuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Monica's local transit agency partner. Collaborates on Bike It Walk It Bus It Week providing free rides for K-12 students. Joint promotion of sustainable transportation alternatives to Santa Monica families.
• LA MetrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transportation authority partner for Bike Week LA and Bike Anywhere Day. Metro provides free rides on Bike Anywhere Day (May 21, 2026) and supports Metro Bike Share promotions with $1 30-day passes during Bike Month.
• Buy Local Santa MonicacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommittee partnership promoting Buy Local Bike Local initiative. Coordinates with local businesses to offer specials and promotions during Bike Month. Co-hosts HandleBar Happy Hour events at local establishments.
• SaMo Safe Streets AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for Vision Zero and safe streets advocacy. Joint organizing of safe streets events and shared advocacy goals for pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements.
• LACBC (Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal chapter of the countywide bicycle advocacy organization. Participates in regional Bike Week LA events and connects with broader cycling advocacy network.
• Great Park CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy coalition working on converting Santa Monica Airport to parkland. Santa Monica Spoke participates in coalition events and supports the park conversion effort.
• Santa Monica Brew WorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal craft brewery hosts HandleBar Happy Hour events during Bike Month. Post-ride meetup location for community bike rides and holiday sweater ride events.
• Bodega Wine BarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNeighborhood wine bar on newly constructed Broadway corridor hosts HandleBar Happy Hour closing event for Bike Month 2026. Promotes bike-friendly business atmosphere.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bike Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based bicycle and pedestrian advocacy nonprofit. Directly comparable as a city/regional advocacy organization running community rides, advocacy campaigns, and infrastructure partnerships.
• SaMo Safe Streets Alliance: Coalition partner of Santa Monica Spoke focused on Vision Zero and safe streets advocacy in Santa Monica. Operates in the same city with overlapping goals, members, and events.
• Cascade Bicycle Club: Regional bicycle advocacy and education nonprofit serving the Puget Sound region. Highly comparable operating model combining advocacy, community rides, education, and government partnerships.
• Walk Bike Nashville: Nashville-based pedestrian and bicycle advocacy nonprofit. Closely mirrors Santa Monica Spoke's model: local advocacy, events, infrastructure campaigns, and government partnerships at the city level.
• Transportation Alternatives: New York City-based advocacy organization for walking, biking, and public transit. Comparable operating model and mission around safer streets, Vision Zero, and active transportation.
• Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC): Countywide bicycle and pedestrian advocacy nonprofit in Los Angeles. Named as an active core partner of Santa Monica Spoke and serves as the regional umbrella for local chapter-style advocacy activity, making it the closest direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• PeopleForBikes: National bicycling advocacy and industry trade association. Comparable mission around bike infrastructure investment, federal funding, and ridership growth, but at a national scale.
• CalBike (California Bicycle Coalition): Statewide bicycle advocacy organization that works on legislation, funding, and policy. Operates at a higher geographic tier than Santa Monica Spoke but addresses the same active-transportation advocacy mission.
• League of American Bicyclists: National bicycling advocacy organization promoting bicycling through policy, education, and a Bike Friendly Community / Bike Friendly Business program. Comparable advocacy scope at the federal level.

Emerging players

• Vision Zero Network: National nonprofit advancing Vision Zero street safety initiatives. Directly overlaps with Santa Monica Spoke's Vision Zero advocacy but functions as a network/coalition rather than a local advocacy group.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SMSpoke
• Instagraminstagram.com/smspoke
• Xx.com/smspoke

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Santa Monica Spoke