A Brief History...
Started as a simple Facebook page devoted to cycling in the San Gabriel Valley by Monterey Park resident and City Clerk Vincent Chang (at the time an MPK Environmental Commissioner and President of the local Chamber of Commerce), ActiveSGV was launched by a group of concerned community members who shared a vision of a cohesive network of people-friendly streets in the San Gabriel Valley.
Since 2010 the group has spearheaded a 5-city regional bicycle master plan with the cities of Baldwin Park, El Monte, South El Monte, San Gabriel and Monterey Park; opened the region's first youth-focused community bicycle cooperative and education center in El Monte; facilitated the most multi-jurisdictional open streets event in the country (8 communities!); and launched one of the first 'traffic school for bikes' programs in the state of California, among other projects.
Mission
ActiveSGV's mission is to support a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley by:
- Partnering with community groups, public health agencies, and other stakeholders to promote active transportation, improve air quality, and support multi-modal transportation planning.
- Organizing fun, free, family-friendly public events that promote active and public transportation.
- Informing and educating city staff and decision makers about best practices in safe street design.
- Providing meaningful community engagement, education, and outreach to SGV communities.
- Engaging and mobilizing underrepresented voices in decision-making processes.
- Educating the community about bicycle safety and the many benefits of riding a bicycle, including improved physical/mental health, air quality, and personal finance.
- Developing strong working relationships with city and government agencies to ensure that local transportation policies and projects safely accommodate vulnerable road users.
- Representing people who bike, walk, and use transit in the San Gabriel Valley on issues of regional significance.
- Supporting policies and legislation to increase funding for more bicycle-, pedestrian-, and transit-friendly communities.
- Recognizing individuals, cities, and staff persons who set the standard for supporting active and public transportation in the San Gabriel Valley.
Vision
ActiveSGV envisions a San Gabriel Valley where:
- People of all ages, incomes, abilities and backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive.
- Decision-making accounts for the needs of current and future generations.
- Local and regional investments help address our most pressing challenges, including climate change, housing affordability, and inequity.
- Elected leadership reflects and accurately represents one of the United States’ most diverse regions.
- Communities pilot best practices in public policy, health, sustainability and governance.
