WalkBoston is celebrating30 years of pedestrian advocacy this year! To reflect on 3 decades of work, we want to hear from you: how has our work impacted you and your community?
Every year, WalkBoston staff challenges ourselves to concisely share our recent work in the “One Minute, One Slide” portion of our Annual Meeting. Although we can’t gather in person this month, we still want to stay connected through storytelling. If you’d like to participate in this storytelling project, send a brief but compelling story no longer than 90 seconds via voice memo to WalkBoston at storytelling@walkboston.org.
On February 12, WalkBoston staff and members of the WalkMassachusetts Network convened for a second Network-wide forum in Framingham. The WalkMassachusetts Network is a statewide network of advocacy organizations, municipal committees, and community groups working on improving walkability. WalkBoston created the Network in 2018 with the aim of supporting and connecting local advocates to build capacity for advancing walkability across the Commonwealth. WalkMassachusetts Network members are experts on their communities and help WalkBoston stay up to date on the diversity of assets, opportunities and challenges to walking in cities and towns across the state.
The second Network forum held last month was an opportunity for current and new members to connect, share knowledge, and learn best practices. Attendees represented 13 communities across the state, including Fall River, Worcester and Springfield. During the half-day forum, members shared wins for walkability in their communities over the past year, which most notably included more funding for Complete Streets and sign projects in multiple communities, new resident snow removal ordinances in Medford and Watertown, a rural walking map and more community engagement in the Hilltowns, and a successful 25th annual Big Walk in Fall River. The Network also participated in “advocacy clinics,” which were discussions about a series of topics related to walkability: Age-Friendly, Safety, Legislation and Policy, Stakeholder Engagement. In these discussions, attendees and WalkBoston staff shared their first-hand knowledge and best practices, which we can all apply to our work moving forward. WalkBoston also shared information and resources about the new Hands-Free policy, which went into effect in February. The many diverse voices and experiences from members, whether they represented rural or urban communities and worked at the grassroots or municipal level, generated engaging and informative discussions that we hope to continue in our work together.
The WalkMassachusetts Network will continue to strategize and plan future Network activities this year, including efforts to continue growing membership. If your community, advocacy or municipal group is working on walkability, please consider joining the Network. See our WalkMassachusetts Network page for more information and fill out this form to join.
Network members share community walking wins.Network members and staff discuss solutions to walkability challenges.
What is your vision for the future of transportation in Massachusetts?
Join WalkBoston and our partners, Transportation for Massachusetts, for the Fix Our Transportation Crisis: Call to Action next Tuesday, February 25th at 10 am to show support for and talk with your representatives about transportation funding and policy.
Brendan Kearney of WalkBoston, who participated in the 2017 safety audit, said that “speed is a huge issue. I love the idea of putting in raised crosswalks.”
Boston Globe: “Walkers and cyclists worry that an Everett gondola would cost them a ‘crucial connection’”
“We’re in favor of a bridge to make this connection. That is kind of a crucial connection for the region — not just for Everett or Somerville, but all the communities from the north,” said Brendan Kearney, deputy director for the group WalkBoston. “It would be disappointing to see all these planning efforts that are coming together go out the window.”
