In this issue:
The Emerald Network debuts with excitement at Tour de Streets
Speaking up for better bike infrastructure in Boston
New England Walk Bike Summit brings region together
Go Boston 2030 needs your ideas
Opportunities for Transit Priority on our Streets
Walking, biking… and dancing for safer streets!
Wins
The Emerald Network debuts with excitement at Tour de Streets
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On September 12th we held our biggest Tour de Streets ever, with more than 125 people biking, walking and raising more than $60,000 toward our $75,000 fundraising goal!
Every year Tour de Streets grows and this year, as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, we launched the Emerald Network, a vision for 200 miles of interconnected multi-use greenways across the Metro Boston area.
As Chris Osgood, Boston’s Chief of Streets stated in the Boston Globe, “The Emerald Network takes Boston’s local plan to scale in the region. It sets a vision for connecting our communities, improving mobility and increasing access to this region’s parks.”
You can learn more about the Emerald Network here and check out some of the great press coverage we received here.
And don’t worry if you missed out on the event—there is still time to participate as a donor! We are collecting donations until the end of September—help us achieve our vision for the Emerald Network and donate today!
What's Happening
Speaking up for better walking and biking infrastructure in Boston
On Monday, Jackie Douglas, LivableStreets Executive Director, testified at a City Council hearing regarding Boston’s biking infrastructure. The room was packed with people calling for solutions that will make our streets safer for everyone.
Jackie took hundreds of the stories we've collected and made your voice heard, “It’s not about 2 miles (of bike lanes) here or one intersection there, it’s a cry for more improvements and infrastructure throughout the entire city”.
On behalf of LivableStreets’ members, Jackie praised the Mayor for committing to Vision Zero and the rapid response efforts the City took to improve the Mass Ave and Beacon St intersection after the tragic crash that took place last month, but she also pushed the City to implement more comprehensive and systemic solutions like the Emerald Network.
As City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who called the hearing, stated, “with more and more cyclists using our roads, it’s time to find a way to share our roadways to ensure the safety of everybody – no matter what their mode of transportation is.”
To watch the full hearing and see Jackie’s testimony visit our StreetFilms page.
New England Walk Bike Summit brings region together
On Thursday, September 24 hundreds of people from across the region gathered at the New England Bike-Walk Summit to discuss issues ranging from equity and diversity, to using data in new and creative ways to engage the community.
LivableStreets staff members Amber Christoffersen and Stacy Thompson both presented at the event highlighting our recently launched Emerald Network and lessons learned on Commonwealth Ave. To learn more about these important initiatives you can visit the Impact section of our website.
And click here to learn more about the Bike-Walk Summit http://newenglandbikewalksummit.org.
Opportunities
Go Boston 2030 needs your ideas
LivableStreets is an advisory committee member of Go Boston 2030 - a City of Boston initiative to envision a bold transportation future for the city. The 18-month initiative aims to develop a far-reaching vision driven by data and steered through an unprecedented and inclusive public engagement process—and it needs your ideas to be successful!
There are two ways you can share your thoughts: online and in your neighborhood.
If you’ve got a great idea for making Boston’s transportation system more equitable, better positioned for economic opportunity, and responsive to climate change, share your idea here.
Or, you can also find the Go Boston 2030 team in person throughout the city. Upcoming pop-up locations include:
Fenway Park
5:00pm – 7:30pm
@ outside Fenway Park for the Red Sox game
Allston
11:00am – 1:00pm
@ Harvard Ave. & Brighton Ave., Allston
Allston-Brighton Parade Afterparty
2:00 – 5:00
@ Brighton Center, Brighton
Post Office Square
Monday, September 28, 4:00pm – 7:00pm
@ Post Office Square, Leventhal Park
To learn more visit :http://www.livablestreets.info/go_boston_2030
Opportunities for Transit Priority on our streets
As the weather begins to cool and the leaves begin to change there is renewed focus on our transit system. There are several opportunities for you to learn more and weigh in on transportation issues throughout the fall:
Better Transit: Play and explore new possibilities!
A team from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning is developing new interactive tools to make transit planning more fun and engaging. We invite you to join us to test your ideas with interactive Lego and mapping tools, explore if bus rapid transit (BRT) could lead to a more connected Boston, and help design tools to make transit planning more engaging.
All events
@ Roxbury Innovation Center, 2nd Floor,
2300 Washington St. Dudley Square, Boston
Launch Event
Wednesday, October 7, 5:30pm
Community Workshops
October 8-10, Two-hour sessions, times and sign-up at: tinyurl.com/BRTtools
Open Exhibit (drop-by)
October 11-14, 11:30am - 6:30pm each day
For more information email [email protected] or call 781-606-0278
The 2015 Moving Together Conference: Healthy Transportation, Healthy Communities
The Moving Together Conference will feature workshops and panels that highlight current pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation topics such as: Vision Zero, Transportation and Economic Development.
LivableStreets will be presenting on making transit a priority on our streets and there are dozens of other workshops and topics to explore at the conference. Click here to learn more and register today!
Moving Together Conference
Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 7:45am – 4:30pm
@ the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, 50 Park Plaza at Arlington, Boston
Walking, biking… and dancing for safer streets!
We are excited to announce that Tommy Vitolo will be dancing on behalf of LivableStreets at Brookline Dancing with the Stars--a benefit designed to support local non-profits.
To learn more about the event, buy a ticket or table and support Tommy, visit livablestreets.info/dwtbs
Dancing with the Brookline Stars
Saturday, November 7, 6:30pm - 10:30pm
@ Our Lady of Annunciation Church, 7 VFW Pkwy, West Roxbury
Sincerely,
LivableStreets Alliance