Help Hold The City Of Boston Accountable For The Northern Ave Bridge

From Livable Streets:

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A year ago, the City of Boston invited stakeholders and the public to help “re-envision a community connection” for the Northern Ave Bridge.

Despite majority public support for preserving the iconic structure as a people-centered bridge for walking and biking, none of the four designs currently on the table align with this vision.

These designs ignore not only current public input, but more than two decades of community advocacy around preservation of the bridge.

It’s clear that this has not been a fair and transparent process for determining the future of our public space.

As members of the Northern Ave Bridge Mayoral Task Force, LivableStreets, Boston Preservation Alliance, and other stakeholders have attempted to address these concerns and have been largely ignored, leading me to write this letter to Mayor Walsh. We have yet to receive a response as the City moves ahead with plans to present the final design at the next Task Force meeting on May 23.

Can you help us hold the City and its leaders accountable for a fully transparent process around the Northern Avenue Bridge?

Contact Mayor Walsh and the City Council members listed below before May 23and ask them to:

• Formally and publicly recommit to a neutral and transparent process that prioritizes the community.
• Commit to presenting for consideration a design and analysis of a bridge that is open only to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency vehicles.
• Commit to working with the historic preservation community to follow required local, state, and federal reviews to demonstrate why a new bridge is the only viable alternative. The new bridge should reflect the spirit of this iconic structure and the historic context of Fort Point Channel.

If the City is going to invest at least $46 million in a new bridge, it would be immensely flawed not to incorporate public input, ongoing development, and established goals from Go Boston 2030. By its nature, the Northern Ave Bridge represents an opportunity for placemaking at its best, and your advocacy is needed now more than ever to help preserve this unique community asset.

For additional background on the Northern Avenue Bridge project, visit our website.

Thank you for taking action!

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Neighborhood Slow Streets: Construction, New Zones Updates

from the email:

CITY OF BOSTON Vision Zero Update NEIGHBORHOOD SLOW STREETS

Our first two Neighborhood Slow Streets projects are heading into construction, and we’re getting ready to begin community walks with each of the five communities that were selected to join the program this year! Below you will find information about: Stonybrook construction Talbot-Norfolk Triangle pre-construction meeting How to get future updates about neighborhood specific projects. This is very important if you want to continue to get project updates. STONYBROOK CONSTRUCTION The Boston Public Works Department and their contractor will begin work in Stonybrook over the next few weeks. Before work begins, flyers will be distributed and signs will be posted. As always, work is weather-dependent. The contractor will do their best to work quickly and efficiently. The final plans for the project have been posted on the Stonybrook page. If you have any questions please e-mail us at [email protected]. TALBOT-NORFOLK TRIANGLE PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING We will join the TNT community at the September 26th TNT Neighbors United meeting to discuss the final design and construction timeline. Members of the community are invited to come and ask questions about the project. CONTINUE TO GET UPDATES Two years ago, there were zero Neighborhood Slow Streets zones, and now there are seven! We’re excited to continue our work with the two pilot communities and begin the process with our five new communities. We don’t want to flood your inbox with updates about other people’s neighborhoods, though. This is the last email about zone-specific work that will be sent to this particular mailing list. This list will continue to receive general Neighborhood Slow Streets updates, including information about the next application process. If you want to receive email updates about any of the seven Neighborhood Slow Streets communities, you will need to join those individual mailing lists. You can sign up for the email lists by visiting any of the zone specific pages: Chinatown Grove Hall / Quincy Corridor Highland Park Mount Hope / Canterbury Stonybrook Talbot-Norfolk Triangle West of Washington Coalition If you’d like to join multiple, or all of the mailing lists, but don’t want to click on each page, you can use the new subscription center at newsletters.boston.gov/subscribe. Enter your e-mail address, then scroll to the “Boston Transportation Department” section and click on the title to expand the list. Click the “Subscribe” button next to each of the Neighborhood Slow Streets lists that you want to join.

Connect with Vision Zero Boston Boston City Hall – Room 721 | Boston, MA 02201 [email protected] | visionzeroboston.org

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City Of Boston Bikes Program Update

Lots of good stuff in here:

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Boston Womens Bicycle Program Ramps Up

I have mentioned it before but I think it is fantastic that the city is starting a women’s bicycling program.  The cycling world is very much skewed towards the male gender, and there is absolutely no reason why women should be out there in equal or greater numbers.

The fact that they are not illustrates that the system has some problems that need to be fixed.  Be it perceived danger, actual danger, lack of education, cultural shift, or men just being jerks, there is something in our bike system that is keeping ladies from riding.  I am very happy the city has started this program.

So if you are a lady, and want to ride a bicycle, or if you are a lady and already ride a bicycle, or if you are a guy and know a lady who you think would want to ride a bicycle, check below for details on upcoming events!

From the City:

Boston Bikes’ new women’s bike initiative is series of rides, biking socials and “Learn to Ride” classes aimed at spreading the joy and benefits of biking in Boston and encouraging more women to take to the streets by bike.  Events start this weekend:

Mom & Kid ride

June 14, 2014, 11 Am – 2 PM

Meet at Franklin Park Clubhouse

Easy 2.5 mile ride plus face painting, bike decorating and ice cream by J.P Licks.  Discount zoo passes too.  FREE. Register today www.bostonbikes.org/women or call 617-918-4458.

Boston Breakers Women’s Bike Social

June 19, 2014, 5:30 PM

Meet at: Jamaica Pond Boathouse,

A fun weeknight outing by bike,  ride from the JP Boat House to Harvard Stadium, where the Boston Breakers will take on the Seattle Reign. We’re offering free tickets to the soccer match to the fist 30 women to register.  Register today www.bostonbikes.org/women.

For a full list of events, go to: www.bostonbikes.org/women

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City Of Boston Hiring Cycling Instructors

And more, from their website:

Boston Bikes employs a small team of part-time employees, primarily for Community Cycling Programs. Once you’re a part of our team, you’ll have opportunities to support all of our projects.

We are actively seeking Cycling Instructor applicants to hire for our Spring 2014 season and will begin interviewing in late February/March. We also hire interns.

Cycling Instructor:

You don’t need to be a bike expert: An affinity for teaching, youth development, and a relentless work ethic are much more important. Reliability and professionalism are expected at all times. We’re looking for people who take personal pride in their work, regardless of whether you’re teaching a classroom or loading a truck. Work happens primarily during day time hours on weekdays (during the school day), with some night and weekend events. Applicants should live in the City of Boston or anticipate living in Boston before beginning employment.

Cycling instructors work as part of a team to teach cycling skills and safety to kids and teens in the Boston Public Schools as part of our Youth Cycling Program. Our program visits a school for two weeks with a fleet of bikes and helmets. On the first day, instructors lay the groundwork for safe riding including helmet fitting, signaling, and safe biking behaviors during a classroom-based workshop. The rest of the time, instructors lead on-the-bike activities and games to reinforce safety lessons and to expose kids to the fun of riding a bike. Cycling instructors also support our Roll it Forward program by leading safety workshops and fitting recipients for helmets and bikes.

This is a fun job, but without a doubt, it is highly physical work. Our instructors and mechanics are constantly lifting bikes, loading trucks, and climbing stairs. If hired, you will be expected to jump in, learn quickly, and be ready to get your hands dirty. Training is provided, but the ability to learn on-the-job is just as important.

To apply, send a resume and a short message of interest to Jenny Duquette. Please include an overview of when you would be able to work and how many hours you seek. Resumes should focus on teaching experience, youth development or early-childhood development, and bicycling experience (if applicable). Unfortunately we cannot guarantee a response to all applicants. CORI background checks will be performed on candidates that advance past the interview.

Bike mechanic:

This is a serious mechanic job and we are looking for experienced shop mechanics. Experience from home or on friends’ bikes is not sufficient. Boston Bikes mechanics chip away at a steady workload alternating between children’s bikes and used bikes for Roll It Forward. Often these are low-cost bikes or very old bikes with multiple problems. Accurate diagnosis (e.g. service writing), patience, and diligence are expected on every bike to meet the number-one goal: A bike does not leave our shop if it isn’t safe. Quality work and quick, efficient repair are expected in equal measure.

Despite the bikes, we want our mechanics to apply the same standard of care as they would for a customer’s high-end racing bike. Rigid repair rules do not apply: we need problem solvers and improvisers. We are also looking for candidates that have an interest in working outside the shop with children and youth: a significant portion of time is spent out in the field, supporting Youth Cycling Programs and Roll It Forward giveaways. Working hours are flexible (including evenings) once candidates have demonstrated responsibility and an unquestionable work ethic.

To apply, send a resumedetailing your experience at bike shops. Include specific capacities as they would relate to our work with difficult bikes. Also include a short statement of interest that lets us know why you’re interested in the gig. Moonlighting veterans from local shops are most welcome! CORI background checks will be performed on candidates that advance past the interview.

Mayor Menino with 2011 interns

Internships:

Internships and Co-ops are available year-round within our office. We design internship responsibilities in conjunction with your field of study and the duration of the internship. At Boston Bikes, interns start contributing to essential program functions on day one. Please start the process at your school with a placement or internship coordinator who shouldcontact Nicole Freedman for openings. There is an interview and selection process.

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