Issue #58 / July 2011

Environmental justice and transportation on two coasts: A look at Boston, MA and Portland, OR 

with Kevin Odell, Coordinator for On The Move Coalition

Co-sponsored by On The Move: Greater Boston Transportation Justice Coalition

Thursday, July 28, 7:00-9:00 pm

@ LivableStreets office, 100 Sidney St, Cambridge [map...]

Open to the public. Suggested $5-10 donation.

How do we make streets open to all users, also open to all communities? How does transportation intersect with environmental justice? Comparing Boston, Massachusetts with Portland, Oregon, Kevin Odell will discuss what we can do to make transportation in Boston fair and equitable for all communities.

Come hear how advocates in each city are working to make environmental justice and transportation equity a meaningful movement for the 21st century. Across the United States, transportation funds and resources tend to favor suburban commuters and auto owners at the cost of the urban poor, the lowest income communities of color, the elderly, foreign nationals and the disabled. People dependent on public transit for their transportation needs often suffer dilapidated buses, long waits, longer rides, poor connections, service cuts, overcrowding, and daily exposure to some of the worst tail-pipe toxins. 

Kevin Raymond Odell is the Coalition Coordinator for On the Move. He previously founded two non-profit organizations in Portland; OPAL (Organizing People - Activating Leaders), an environmental justice community-based organization and Groundwork Portland, a coalition concerned about brownfields, green jobs, and economic development opportunities. 

On the Move is a coalition of nine community based organizations in greater Boston, including LivableStreets, which came together in 2002 to advocate for transportation justice. 

> Spread the word, invite friends on Facebook here >>>

> For more information, go to www.LivableStreets.info / call 617.621.1746 / kara@livablestreets.info

Mark your calendar: Summer social, August 18

River Street Bridge current (top) and a LivableStreets vision for a better River Street bridge (bottom)

Over 1,500 people have written to us about why they want Better Bridges, and here is what they are saying...

"I want to walk side-by-side, not single file."

"When I tell patients to walk or bike more for their health, I want there to be a lot of places for that to happen."

"Then I would ride them instead of drive."

"Massachusetts needs to encourage more walking and cycling for local trips - for the climate, for people's health, and ultimately, to make Massachusetts more desirable."

Studies show that an increase in bicycle infrastructure leads to an increase in ridership, fewer injuries, and safer streets. 

That's why.

LivableStreets is your voice for better walking, biking, and public transit. 

Join LivableStreets now  to turn the vision into reality, making the Boston region a better place to live, work, and play. 

Ride 4 Bob Zeeb Sept. 24, to benefit LivableStreets

The Ride 4 Bob Zeeb celebrates the life and spirit of Robert Zeeb, 1938 - 2009

Saturday, September 24, 9:30 am  

1st annual Ride 4 Bob Zeeb, 2010

Meet at Auburndale Park in Newton, MA (start & finish)

20 and 40 mile loops, with shorter excursions possible.

  "Because he was so passionate about cycling, we think   he would be especially pleased that this bike ride

  will benefit Livable Streets," say his two sons, Peter

  and Noel, who are organizing the ride.

Last year's event was an incredible success with more than 100 riders. We look forward to seeing you all for a wonderful fall ride along some of Bob's favorite routes. 

Register at  www.ride4bobzeeb.org

> If you are not able to attend or ride, but still wish to make a donation in memory of Bob Zeeb, you can online through website or send a check with 'Ride4BobZeeb' in the memo directly to LivableStreets, 70 Pacific Street, Cambridge MA 02139.  

About Bob Zeeb 

Bob Zeeb was regularly cycling 50 miles a day and hoped to make a cross-country trip the summer of 2011. He died November 10, 2009, as the result of a bicycle accident due to a missing electrical utility vault access plate. 

Bob Zeeb

 

Bob was a retired educational administrator for the Newton Schools, a coordinator of adult education for the First Unitarian Society of Newton, an avid environmentalist, social justice activist, gardener, and cyclist. He was a resident of Newtonville with his wife, Holly, for the past 45 years.

 

Bob and Holly Zeeb enjoyed many cycling trips together: in Crete, in the Finger Lakes regions of New York State, in the Boulder area of Colorado, and in Maine. Bob and their two sons, Peter, of Arlington and Noel, of Cambridge, cycled in the Loire Valley in France together in 2008 in celebration of his 70th birthday.

 

Sign up to ride, or make a donation in memory of Bob Zeeb, here >>>   

Bike sharing is coming to Boston

Starting Tuesday, you'll have a new option for getting around Boston: Hubway bike share! 

With 600 bikes at 61 stations, Hubway will be a fun, easy way to get around the city. It is proposed to expand to surrounding cities and towns soon, and LivableStreets is working to make this happen.

Bike share helps solve the "last mile problem" -getting from the train or bus to where you need to go, thereby making transit more feasible. It's also a great way to get people to try urban biking who wouldn't otherwise. In advance of the launch, the City of Boston, in conjunction with LivableStreets, MassBike, WalkBoston, and Boston Cyclists Union has launched an education and safety campaign - distributing lights and helmets, teaching bike classes, promoting respect for all users on the streets, and more.

Come celebrate the launch of this exciting initiative that will make Boston a better place to live, work, and play. And hear LivableStreets President Nina Garfinkle speak.

Tuesday, July 26, 11 am - 12:45 pm @ City Hall Plaza, Boston (speaking at 12:15)

> Join Hubway by July 22 and take part in the inaugural ride with Mayor Menino. 

> Join Hubway in July and get a 30% discount on membership.

> Chance to win a free membership if you attend LivableStreets/On The Move event Thursday.