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SOUTH EL MONTE B R ING ING NEW S , P EO PL E AND EVENTS TO T HE C IT Y O F SOUTH EL MONTE
NEWS
IN THIS ISSUE RENTAL/MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM PG. 2 CENSUS 2020 PG. 5 SUMMER HEAT SAFETY TIPS PG. 10 GOSGV BIKE SHARE PROGRAM PG. 12
GoSGV Regional E-Assist Bike Share Program Launched in South El Monte On July 9, 2020, officials gathered at South El Monte City Hall for a social distanced kick-off ceremony and brief bike ride to launch GoSGV, a new regional bike share program organized by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) that will offer an accessible and affordable transportation option to the San Gabriel Valley through shared-use electric assist bicycles. South El Monte is the first city in the San Gabriel Valley to launch the bike share program. Starting with 30 bikes in the City of South El Monte, GoSGV will expand over the next year to 840 bikes stationed at bike share hubs in half of 31 cities and unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel Valley. “We are proud to launch the Gotcha GoSGV bikes as a means of enhancing the quality of life in our community and providing residents with greater connectivity within our city. Also, we are very proud to be the first city in the San Gabriel Valley to achieve this goal and would like to thank the SGVCOG for partnering with us. This new regional bike share program will give many people an easy and affordable way to ride bikes,” said one City Official.
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“The SGVCOG is delighted to be able to bring affordable and uniform bike sharing to the San Gabriel Valley,” said La Verne Mayor Tim Hepburn, who serves as Third Vice President of the SGVCOG Governing Board. “Interest in bicycling has surged in recent months, with U.S. urban area ridership reported to have increased by 21 percent during the pandemic. Given this trend, we are prepared to further expand the number of bikes and are open to accepting additional San Gabriel Valley communities into the GoSGV program if demand supports it.” Electric-assist bicycles are similar to regular bikes but have pedal assist which help riders by boosting their pedaling efforts, making it easier to climb hills, travel longer distances and assist individuals with physical limitations that prevent extended cycling. GoSGV bikes can be returned to stations, or elsewhere for a small fee. Gotcha is responsible for ensuring that e-bikes are maintained at stations.
ECRWSS
Users can unlock bikes through the Gotcha app and will be charged $2 to unlock and 10 cents per minute to ride or an $80 annual flat fee. Qualified low-income riders will pay $1 to unlock and 5 cents per minute or a $5 annual flat fee. Monthly memberships are also available. Bikes can be returned to stations, or elsewhere for a small fee.
Residential Customer
City of South El Monte 1415 Santa Anita Ave. South El Monte, CA 91733
PAID
PERMIT #87 EL MONTE
PRSRT. STD U.S. POSTAGE
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GoSGV is sponsored by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), supported by a $4.554 million state greenhouse gas reduction grant and operated by Gotcha, a national private shared-mobility firm. For over a year, the City of South El Monte has worked with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, Active SGV and the California State Department of Transportation to support the regional effort to give our communities alternative modes of transportation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gotcha bikes offer transportation alternatives that allow for social distancing. While people are doing their best to stay put, many need to make essential trips and may not have access to a personal vehicle. Gotcha’s bikes offer an alternative to public transit that can cause people to gather in confined spaces like buses. Gotcha bike stations in South El Monte, include: • City Hall, 1415 Santa Avenue • Community Center, 1530 Central Avenue • Durfee Avenue and Michael Hunt Drive • Mary Van Dyke Park, 1819 Central Avenue • New Temple Park, 1450 Lidcombe Avenue • Shively Park, 1402 Lerma Road Bikes are not cleaned between every ride, but they are cleaned whenever they are maintained or rebalanced by Gotcha’s team. However, there are a few easy ways to help keep shared mobility safer for you and others: • Use hand sanitizer and proper handwashing techniques before and after using bikes • Wear personal protective equipment like face masks whenever using bikes • Follow social distancing guidelines by staying at least 6 feet from others
For additional information, visit the City’s website cityofsouthelmonte.org.