Contested Streets Film and Discussion

[lostgears]

Well we had about 70 people in total come to the film/discussion event. From my count about 15 rode their bikes too!

Some great ideas were brought up including creating some small wins by picking very specific doable projects such as: Creating a pedestrian-only section of the warehouse district, further plans for the alley between Front street and the river (Between Cass and Park) as a more pedestrian friendly area, working to make a bike-safe day once per week for West Jr.High students, working to encourage Munson Medical Center to create better bike-friendly infrastructure and policies. All great beginnings.

We also took some names and will hold you to your commitments as best we can.

We'll have a more complete report available here as soon as we get the notes back from Missy and TART. Feel free to leave any messages, ideas, concerns here in the meantime.

Thanks for coming.

Bill (LostGears)

[Kate]

Bill, you did a great job facillitating the discussion last night. Thank you for keeping it positive and productive.

I heard lots of great ideas and know that people will continue to discuss this, spread the word, plant the seed, reach beyond the 70 people who attended...

I was especially taken with the idea of making Garland Street/Warehouse District pedestrian only. This could be the short-term win that would make larger goals seem more attainable. Little steps.

And I am pleased to say, that due to last night's event, I woke up thinking that our city is a little better today than it was yesterday.

[lostgears]

Here are the notes as taken by Missy Luyk of TART. Take a look. We purposefully asked people to make vocal commitments to small, doable, projects. Your name may be on here.

The steering committee will be meeting this week to make plans for the next-steps. If you put your name down as a volunteer expect to be contacted within the next couple weeks.

Many thanks for all of you who attended and for those people and organizations that made it possible.

cheers!

Bill

[lostgears]

An interesting article in NY Magazine listing the reasons to love New York. Number 3. is "Because Robert Moses Would Have a Coronary If He Were to See Our Streets Now." If you saw the film you know the role he played in creating a transportation system spectacularly designed to minimize importance of pedestrians. See the article here.

[lostgears]

We've closed this discussion for now. Further discussion on this topic has been moved to the group labeled Complete Streets. http://bikeriot.ning.com/group/completestreets/