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Livable Streets Recap

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 08

Register for Bike4Life, Sept. 15

 

 

Join us for a beautiful fall bike ride and BBQ celebration on the Charles. Sign up to ride 24 or 40 miles or join the 4 or 8 mile volunteer-led family and kids’ routes. Bike4Life starts and ends in Auburndale Park, Newton. Register today. Bike4Life is a fundraiser for LivableStreets. Fundraising minimum $100. First 100 people to register and raise $100 get Bike4Life t-shirts.

 

This is our most important event and an all-around favorite! Bike4Life helps us fund the change we all want to see on the ground. By registering and raising at least $100, you are helping create safer streets for all people in the Boston region!

 

                                           
Can’t ride? You can still volunteer, fundraise or donate to help reach ourgoal of $50,000 for more livable streets. bike4lifeboston.org #Bike4LifeBoston

$600 Million Transportation Bill – Yes, it’s a Bill! 
The T is finally getting part of the upgrade it needs.
On July 24, the Massachusetts State Legislature secured the biggest investment for state transportation in decades, thanks to you!
You stepped up to our multiple action e-lerts and personal emails. You sent petitions, called your reps and showed up at Transportation Day on the Hill. You listened, responded, and took action to help move this bill forward. Thank you for helping take our most important transportation systems out of debt and disrepair and move us on the path to having a 21st century transportation system in the Commonwealth.
The bill:
  • Invests a dedicated $600M/year in MA’s transportation system a year for the next 5 years
  • Closes the MBTA’s structural budget gap for 2013, which was over $100M this year
  • Caps fare increases at a 5% increase every two years
  • And more – see more on the bill here
Now it’s time for LivableStreets to ensure the bill’s funding is spent wisely and fairly. Become a member today to support making sure this new funding goes to much-needed biking, walking and transit projects.

Mayoral Candidates Forum on Transportation & Livable Communities, Sept. 17   

Do you want to know where the Boston mayoral candidates stand on issues of transportation and livable communities? Save the date for the Boston Mayoral Candidate Forum on Transportation & Livable Communities, where we’ll hear candidates for Boston mayor address the vital transportation issues affecting our community. 

Tuesday, September, 17, 6-8pm @ the Boston Public Library

RSVP on Facebook for next updates.

    Longfellow Bridge construction and long-term vision
 
Longfellow Bridge construction has begun. Here’s what you need to know:

Construction is projected to take three and a half years as MassDOT takes apart the bridge and puts its back together. But, the wait will be worth it as the final design is a huge win for everyone using the bridge!

 

LivableStreets’ long term vision for bridge. If you support this vision donate $10 to our Better Bridges campaign today.

What does the construction mean for my commute?

For now, one lane of motor vehicle traffic from Cambridge-to-Boston is open with bike lanes in both directions for use during the

from Boston-to-Cambridge!). The sidewalk on the Boston-to-Cambridge side also remains open. The Red Line will continue service in both directions.

There will be 25 weekends over the next three and a half years, including this weekend, in which buses will replace the Red Line between Park St. and Kendall Stations, and the motor vehicle lane and bike lane will be closed. The sidewalk will remain open for pedestrians and people to walk their bikes.

 

What will it look like when construction is done?

What the bridge will look like after construction, including wider sidewalks and a buffered bike lane!
The original designs for the Longfellow Bridge were only to repair the structure of the bridge. However, thanks to all your support, and the success of the Better Bridges Campaign, repairs now include surface improvements with YOU in mind! There will be wider sidewalks and bike lanes in both directions, including a buffered bike lane from Boston-to-Cambridge!
Are you excited about the long-term vision for the Longfellow? Want to see more bridges improved? Support our Better Bridges Campaign today with a $10 donation. 

What do you think of the plans? 

Let us know on Twitter

#BetterBridges or by emailingbetterbridges@livablestreets.info. We will pass your comments to MassDOT. They have been testing traffic patterns now before starting demolition.

  • Circle the City photos and next event, Sept. 29
See more photos from Circle the City, Huntington Ave here
 
More open streets are coming soon! Save the date for Circle the City: Open Streets on Blue Hill Avenue,Sunday, September 29 from 11am-4pm. RSVP on Facebook and spread the word. Email Jessica Parsonsto sign up to volunteer!

Welcome Alice and GreenRoutes update

 

The GreenRoutes vision is a network of connected paths which allow people to experience parklands, waterfronts, and great green streets through walking and biking. This summer we are analyzing thefeasibility of linking greenways in the urban core. With grant support from the Trustees Collaborative and the Lillian & Lawrence Solomon Foundation, we have hired Alice Brown to produce a map of existing, planned, and proposed GreenRoutes between the Neoponset andMystic Rivers. Alice will also conduct an analysis of individual gaps in the network and write a case statement that summarizes the potential for creating a comprehensive vision for a seamless and legible series of green routes.

 

We are so excited to have Alice join our team for the next two months. Alice recently earned a master of urban planning degree from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and has worked with Boston Bikes. Her thesis research focused on non-automotive uses of Boston streets. “I am delighted to be part of connecting the most beautiful parts of the region for people who travel on two feet or two wheels.” You can reach her at [email protected].

  • LivableStreets in the news: Boston Globe, Forbes, WBUR, WGBH
 
Big week for LivableStreets in the news! Executive Director Jackie Douglas was on WBGH Greater Boston, WBUR’s Radio Boston, in Forbe’s “Consumers are ‘Driving Light'” article and on the Boston Globe’s Bicycle Safety panel.
Listen to the WBUR segment on rethinking our reliance on cars and check out the rest of our press center here

Volunteer Spotlight with Mike Sanders

 

“I learned a lot about advocacy and local government during this process and really appreciate the knowledge and educational support provided by the LivableStreets community.” – Mike Sanders
Where are you from?
Now, Washington Square Brookline. Originally, near Albany, NY.

What do you like about volunteering with LivableStreets?

I like learning about everyone’s advocacy efforts. Conversations with other volunteers and members are the best. It’s also fun to chat with people on the street and help bring their voices into the public process through LivableStreets’ Street Ambassador program.

 

What is your favorite LivableStreets advocacy project?

My favorite advocacy project is the contra-flow bicycle lane project in my neighborhood in Brookline. A street with a contra-flow lane has one-way car traffic and two-way bike traffic. Contra-flow lanes provide more convenient connections for people biking where other alternative routes are less convenient.

 

Contra-flow bicycle lanes were proposed more than five years ago by the Brookline Bicycle Advisory Committee. When they came up for funding at the May 2012 Town Meeting, there was some resistance. A small group of elected Town Meeting Members

proposed a by-law prohibiting the lanes. LivableStreets members

attended and presented at a number of public meetings and

New contra-flow bicycle lane on Essex St in Brookline that Mike helped make happen. 

helped inform residents and Town Meeting Members on the benefits of contra-flow bicycle lanes.

 

In the end, hundreds of residents and elected officials learned about the effectiveness and design of contra-flow bicycles lanes. The by-law did not pass at Town Meeting and the lanes were approved for funding last year and installed over the past couple of months on Essex, Ivy, Park and Dudley Streets.

 

What would your bumper sticker say?
My other car is a Hubway.

 

> Read more Mike’s efforts with the contra-flow bicycle lanes and his full spotlight here.

> If you are interested in volunteering with LivableStreets, come to our

Volunteer Fridays from 12-2pm at our office, 100 Sidney Street, Cambridge. The next one happens August 16.

Other events and meetings

 

Proposed Bike Lanes on Hemenway Street Public Meeting

Wednesday, August 14, 6pm-7pm

@ Boston Conservancy, 31 Hemenway Street, T401, Boston

This could be for Boston’s first contra-flow bike lane! Attend and speak out.

Meeting details here>>

 

Bikes Lanes on Broadway Public Meeting by Southie Bikes

Tuesday, August 20, 6pm

@ Condon School, 200 D Street, South Boston

The City of Boston will have a design for East and West Broadway for the public to provide feedback on. Attend and speak out.

Meeting details here>>


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The Word On The Street

  • RSS Here is what people are saying

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    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
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    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
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    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg