WalkMassachusetts

🌟 Happy National Intern Day! 🌟 Meet Tyler Barron (he/him), our amazing 2024 summer intern at WalkMassachusetts! Tyler holds degrees from UMass Amherst in community engagement and agriculture. He's worn many hats, from landscaper to carpenter, and even biked across the country for affordable housing advocacy. This fall, he's heading to MIT for a Master's in City Planning. Tyler is passionate about creating more equitable and walkable towns and cities. We're thrilled to have him on our team! 🚶‍♂️🌆

🌟 Join us for our East Boston Community Walk! 🌟 Hear from speakers about programmatic work in East Boston and learn about the important themes of environmental justice in Eastie, in collaboration with GreenRoots. Let's walk together and make a difference!

Ven a disfrutar de la vibrante comunidad de East Boston mientras apoyas la seguridad peatonal y promueve un vecindario más saludable y conectado. Podrás escuchar sobre el trabajo programático en East Boston y aprender sobre los temas importantes como la justicia ambiental en East Boston. El evento es en colaboración con GreenRoots. Caminemos juntos y hagamos una diferencia!

🗓️ Date: August 6th 530-7 PM
📍 Location: East Boston
🔗 Register now: https://www.givesignup.org/TicketEvent/2024EastBostonWalk

Statewide E-Bike Rebate Update!

In the fall of 2024 or spring of 2025, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center expects to launch a statewide e-bike incentive to partially offset the cost of e-bikes for low- and moderate-income residents.

The program application is not yet available, but an e-bike rebate interest form is now live on MassCEC's Electric Bicycles page. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4fghbIr

🚶‍♂️❤️ Need a little more love (and a lot more crosswalks) in your life? Check out Newburyport Livable Streets' "All you need is love and the occasional crosswalk" t-shirt campaign!

All you need is love, Supporting Newburyport Livable Streets Newburyport Livable Streets seeks to support and improve the health and well-being of our community through education and advocacy related to transportation infrastructure and policies. Our goal is to make it easier for people to bike and walk throughout Newburyport by providing a network of streets...

T4MA's The Money Train: A Learning Series on Transportation Funding For the first panel of our learning series on transportation funding, we heard from Roseann Bongiovanni of GreenRoots, Jen Healy of the Quaboag Connector, Jack Myers…

🚌🚆🛤️ How do you get your information about MBTA diversions and track improvement? We are hoping to learn the best way to share information about the MBTA shutdowns with you. Fill out our survey to share your thoughts!
Link to survey: https://forms.gle/eBDfw5dpAd1U1E9f9

Missed our latest network call? Catch up on the insightful discussion about leveraging spatial thinking to advocate for safer pedestrian spaces. Learn how this approach can shape the future of walkability in our communities!

https://walkmass.org/2024/07/18/walkmass-network-call-july-17-2024-how-can-spatial-thinking-enhance-pedestrian-advocacy/

WalkMass Network Call July 17, 2024: How Can Spatial Thinking Enhance Pedestrian Advocacy? - WalkMassachusetts How Can Spatial Thinking Help in Advocating for Pedestrians? Speaker: Professor Sumeeta Srinivasan, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University, WalkMassachusetts Board Member Yesterday, Professor Sumeeta Srinivasan spoke about how GIS, or Geo...

Climate change is intensifying heat waves, making them more frequent and severe. The concept of "wet-bulb temperature," which combines heat and humidity, is crucial for understanding these extreme conditions. High wet-bulb temperatures prevent the human body from cooling through sweating, posing severe health risks and even death. Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/15/heat-waves-wet-bulb-temperature-climate-change/

📅 July 17, 2024

🌍 How can spatial thinking help in advocating for pedestrians?

🗣️ Speaker: Professor Sumeeta Srinivasan
Senior Lecturer, Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning, Tufts University, WalkMassachusetts Board Member

🗺️ Topic: Using GIS for Advocacy
Learn how GIS (Geographic Information Systems) tools can empower communities to create maps and conduct spatial analysis for effective advocacy.

🔗 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcocOGtrTwoE9fRgGX1xSJC43fBcLMQ76wY #/registration

Slow down, save lives! 🚸 Co-Executive Director Brendan Kearney at WalkMassachusetts emphasizes the impact of speed humps:
"In most of Boston, the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. But it's tough to enforce. Police can’t be everywhere at once. If you install speed humps, that is 24/7 enforcement."

https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/07/10/boston-speed-humps-traffic-safety?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0VBb-oTPdCywaql0ubF0Acqo9yY4ui5D0Wmp_d-xy9H1wYM753SErewqE_aem_ulBJ6OOlZ2fMLUmxku857Q

Slow down: Boston is installing more than 2,000 speed humps on city streets Drivers in Boston are encountering a new kind of traffic enforcement on neighborhood streets: speed humps. The city is installing more than 2,000 of them, as part of a program to slow cars down and make streets safer.

Groundbreaking Ceremony to Connect Trail in Lynn to Nahant Beach Set for July, 11 - Bike to the Sea, Inc. The project will extend the trail with curb-separated, on-street bike lanes through downtown Lynn to Nahant Beach.

Join Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) for a discussion with MBTA Advisory Board and MBTA Board Members on the future of public transit in Greater Boston. Register here: https://www.mapc.org/planning101/event/the-mbtas-fiscal-cliff-and-the-future-of-public-transit/ Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority - MBTA

🌟 Join Us for a Cambridgeport Walk! 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

📅 Date: July 11
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM
📍 Starting Point: 785 Comm Ave, Boston MA
📍 Ending Point: Central Square

Experience the beauty and charm of Cambridgeport with us! This walk is a perfect opportunity to explore the area, meet new people, and be in community. All are welcome!

For more details, check out the link: https://walkmass.org/2024/06/13/join-us-for-a-cambridgeport-walk-starting-by-the-bu-bridge-on-july-11-at-530pm/

Exciting changes ahead on Medford's Main Street! 🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️✨ The new project aims to boost safety, mobility, and sustainability, but it's sparking some community debate. What do you think about the plans? Let's discuss! 🗣️ "

Medford Main Street Project Sparks Community Debate on Safety, Mobility, and Sustainability - Streetsblog Massachusetts MassDOT is redesigning a high-crash intersection in downtown Medford; however, their plans currently include preserving an outdated highway overpass whose ramps are the the site of many of the crashes in the area. The plans would also result in a reduction of the amount of space for bikes and pedest...

Take Action - Smart Growth America The majority of pedestrian deaths occur on state-owned roadways. While the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides funding to address this issue, state investments in transportation have largely focused on roadway expansion—often to the detriment of safe walking conditions. It’s time for...

Join us next week for a free walk!

Join us for a free Cambridgeport walk! 🚶‍♀️ Starting by the BU Bridge (Comm Ave side) near "Lot H" on July 11 at 5:30 PM.

Details: https://walkmass.org/2024/06/13/join-us-for-a-cambridgeport-walk-starting-by-the-bu-bridge-on-july-11-at-530pm/



*Photo Credit- Meet Boston

Enhancing street safety one curb extension at a time! 🚶‍♀️🌳 Shorter crossings, slower traffic, and greener streets. Learn more at NACTO.org. NACTO

This upcoming Monday!

Join us for a free Cambridgeport walk! 🚶‍♀️ Starting by the BU Bridge (Comm Ave side) near "Lot H" on July 11 at 5:30 PM.

Details: https://walkmass.org/2024/06/13/join-us-for-a-cambridgeport-walk-starting-by-the-bu-bridge-on-july-11-at-530pm/



*Photo Credit- Meet Boston

In honor of Juneteenth, there are many ways to celebrate right here in Boston including vibrant gatherings brimming with soulful cuisine, music, dance, and more.

Some of our top ways to celebrate include Embrace Boston Ideas Festival, Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, walking the Black Heritage Trail with Boston African American National Historic Site, visiting the Museum of African American History and exploring the Harriet Hayden Albums at the Boston Athenæum.

Discover all the ways to commemorate Juneteenth by heading to the link below.
https://www.meetboston.com/events/holidays/juneteenth/

🗓 Join us on June 18th at 1pm on Zoom for a discussion on mapping for pedestrian accessibility! Register now for this insightful event, featuring Garrett Dash Nelson, President & Head Curator of the Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library. Learn how mapping can be used to improve accessibility. Boston Public Library

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsfuygqjwuG9YCMJdtqEh-OfU6kYNHgMPw

The annual cost of driving in Massachusetts is $64 billion, with public expenses of $36 billion ($14,000 per resident) for road maintenance, pollution, and traffic issues. Shifting to walking and public transit can save money and improve quality of life. Thank you for sharing!

Last week WalkMassachusetts and CultureHouse came together for professional development and peer-learning opportunities at the Cambridge Innovation Center. The conversation focused on improving walkability and the pedestrian experience as well as the importance of inclusive community spaces.

Read our blog post here: https://rb.gy/w3duy4

At WalkMassachusetts, our mission is to transform communities into walkable, healthy, and thriving spaces for all. We are immensely grateful for the support we have received in the past 30 years, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to those who have generously contributed their time, resources, and platforms to help amplify our cause.

Please consider making a donation today on to support our cause and help us make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Your contribution will go a long way in creating safer, healthier, and more walkable environments for all.

Donate here: https://tinyurl.com/bdfbj6rv

Yesterday, Co-Executive Brendan Kearney participated in the World Day of Remembrance event held in Worcester. The event, organized by WalkBike Worcester in collaboration with MassBike and City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. There have been 85 traffic fatalities over the last decade in Worcester.

Learn more about this event: https://patch.com/massachusetts/worcester/world-day-remembrance-worcester-calls-end-traffic-deaths