Getting to Glow

Residents and visitors are encouraged to plan their visit to Glow.    Walking and biking are particularly good choices; with several free bike valets strategically located near the event.  Traffic and parking may be challenging at certain times during the event.  Flat rate event parking will be in effect in city lots west of Lincoln beginning at 4 p.m., ranging from $5 – $20. The easiest and least expensive parking will be in the beach lots south of Pico Blvd. and north of the California incline.  For real-time parking availability, please visit www.smgov.net/parkingspacenow

Beyond the art, there’s the experience of Glow.  Make an evening of it – local restaurants and businesses will be open until 4 a.m. offering an array of “glowing” specials.  There are even special packages from twelve of Santa Monica’s leading hotels!  Visit www.santamonica.com/glow for more information.

getting to Glow: by bike

Biking to GLOW is THE way to go.  Three City Bike Valets will park bikes for free all evening at these locations:

  • Palisades Park (Ocean Avenue), between Broadway & Santa Monica, starting at 4 p.m.
  • On the ocean side of the beach bike path, south of the Pier near the lifeguard station, starting at 6 p.m.
  • The parking lot west of Crescent Bay Park along the beach bike path, just north of Bicknell Avenue, starting at 6 p.m.

Employees working in downtown are encouraged to use the Palisades Park bike valet, open at 4 p.m.

Don’t forget your bike light!  A light is required to ride at night, and must illuminate the roadway in front of you and be bright enough so others can see you.

getting to Glow: by car

Traffic and parking in downtown Santa Monica may be extremely challenging at certain points during the evening.  Plan ahead and allow additional travel time.  Here’s a few inside tips:

  • Exit I-10 westbound at Cloverfield or Lincoln Blvd. Use Broadway or Arizona to access downtown; use Pico or Ocean Park Boulevard to access low-cost beach parking.
  • Flat-rate event parking will range from $5 – $20, based on proximity to the Glow Zone.
  • Less expensive beach parking lots will be north of the California Incline and south of Pico Blvd.
  • Use www.smgov.net/parkingspacenow to track parking availability.
  • Alleys in the Glow Zone will be accessible.
  • Residents/employees/visitors driving to destinations within the Glow Zone will be permitted at the discretion of SMPD. It is highly unlikely that vehicle access to closed streets will be permitted 7 p.m. – 3 a.m.
  • Visitors should budget at least 30 minutes additional travel time if coming by car. Check online (for example: www.sigalert.com) to monitor traffic conditions.

getting to Glow: by public transit

With a little planning ahead, public transit is an excellent option for getting to Glow.  Just bear in mind the running times of your carrier – while Glow runs until 3 a.m., many transit lines do not.  Letting someone else do the driving will make your trip to Glow more delightful, but plan your evening accordingly.

To ensure everyone has the safest and easiest trip to Glow, after 6p.m. most Big Blue Bus routes are planning to end service near 11th St. to the east, Santa Monica Blvd. to the north, and Pico Blvd. to the south. All Big Blue Buses have bike racks if you’d like to bring your bike along to ride the last few blocks to the event. Riders using mobility devices and/or who cannot walk to the event from these streets should note that taxis and paratransit vehicles will be allowed within the Glow Zone.

BBB service will adhere as closely as possible throughout the service area to regular Saturday schedules. BBB Customer Service Representatives will be available to provide updates until 9p.m. at (310) 451-5444. Here are the planned service changes, but please note that times and bus stop locations are subject to change based on road conditions and direction from safety officers.

Route 1: Buses will bring riders to their choice of Lincoln Blvd. at either Santa Monica Blvd. (to access to the north end of event) or Pico Blvd. (to access the south end). Riders leaving Glow heading to Westwood can catch the last bus from the Pico Blvd. stop at approximately 11:30 p.m. and from the Santa Monica Blvd. stop at approximately 11:45p.m. Riders leaving Glow heading to Venice can catch the last bus from the Santa Monica Blvd. stop at approximately 12:00a.m. and from the Pico Blvd. stop at approximately 12:15a.m.

Route 3: Buses will bring riders to their choice of Lincoln Blvd. at either Wilshire Blvd. (to access the north end of the event), or Lincoln Blvd. at Pearl St. (to access the south end). Riders leaving the event for San Vicente/Barrington can catch the last bus on Wilshire Blvd. at 10:15p.m. Riders leaving for Venice, Marina del Rey and Westchester can catch the last bus from Wilshire at approximately 11:00p.m. or from Lincoln at Pearl St. at approximately 11:15p.m.

Routes 2, 4 & 9: Buses will bring riders to 5th St. at Arizona Ave.  Riders leaving Glow for Westwood, Venice and Pacific Palisades can catch the last buses from this location at 10p.m. (If incoming or outgoing buses cannot reach 5th St. at Arizona Ave., riders will be instructed to use alternate stop on Lincoln Blvd. at Arizona Ave.)

Routes 7 & 8: Buses will bring riders to 5th St. on Broadway. Riders leaving Glow for West Los Angeles can catch the last Route 7 bus from this location at approximately 11:45p.m. Riders leaving the event for Ocean Park can catch the last Route 8 bus at approximately 10:45p.m. (If incoming or outgoing buses cannot reach 5th St. at Arizona Ave., riders will be instructed to use alternate stop on Lincoln Blvd. at Broadway.)

Metro and other bus lines will also be affected – please check with the transportation service you plan to use before heading out.  For more details on transit service changes visit BigBlueBus.com or Metro.net.

 

in the Glow Zone: street closures

Street closures will be in effect during this bike- and pedestrian-friendly event in order to accommodate the anticipated volume of residents and visitors in the Glow Zone.  Beginning at 5 p.m., and effective 7 p.m. – 3 a.m. the following will be closed:

  • Ocean Ave: Seaside Terrace to Santa Monica Blvd
  • Colorado Blvd: Ocean Ave to 2nd Street
  • Main St: Northbound, Pico to Colorado
  • Broadway: Westbound, 4th St to 2nd St & all lanes, 2nd St to Ocean Ave
  • Pacific Coast Hwy: Moomat Ahiko access ramp to PCH
  • Seaside Terrace: Westbound, Ocean Ave to Appian Way

It is highly unlikely that vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit the Glow Zone during the event. Vehicular access will be allowed at the discretion of SMPD.  Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.