Tag: Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation

May is Bike to Work Month

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With spring in the air, the Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST) and the League of American Bicyclists, a national organization of bicyclists, announce that May 20, 2016 is Bike to Work Day.

 RSVP on Facebook

 Monadnock Bike-Walk to Work Day Poster (pdf)

Why Bike to Work?

Forty percent of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options, it’s not surprising that, from 2000 to 2013, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 62 percent. More bicycle commuting data is available at www.bikeleague.org/commutingdata/.

2016 Bike to Work Day Schedule of Events*

MAST invites bicyclists to stop by Railroad Square in Keene between 6:00 am and Noon on Bike to Work Day to take advantage of free coffee, snacks, giveaways.

6:00 am – Noon: Free commuter breakfast, including coffee, juice, bagels, and fruit (while supplies last).

6:00 am – Noon: Free bicycle adjustments and maintenance Q&A provided by Advanced Cyclist

9:00 – 9:45 am:  Complete Streets information session at the Hannah Grimes Center, located at 25 Roxbury Street in Keene.  Find out why 30 states, including all New England states except New Hampshire, as well as more than 600 counties and municipalities have adopted Complete Streets policies to help improve the quality of life for their citizens, from healthier kids to more independent seniors.

10:00 am: Mayor’s proclamation about Bike to Work Day

10:15 – 11:15 am: Bicycle and Walking tours of Keene showcasing bicycle-, pedestrian-, and transit-friendly street design. Led by the Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire and MAST.

Noon: Raffle drawing. Prizes include a Bicycle Basket from Peterboro Basket Company, a Bicycle Basket from Advanced Cyclist, a free 1-month membership at the Keene YMCA, a Monadnock Food Co-op gift card, a 1-month pass for the City Express Bus, and more! Winners will be notified via email or phone.

* Schedule subject to change

Log Your Trips and Win Prizes

CommuteSmart New Hampshire is challenging commuters to “commute smart” – carpool, walk, telecommute, bike, or use public transportation. By logging your smart commute in the new online trip logger, you can compete with other teams and individuals statewide to win prizes and get free giveaways. Register today to get started! www.CommuteSmartNH.org

The CommuteSmart NH Statewide Challenge begins May 16th. There will be a one-week competition during National Bike to Work Week (May 16-20, 2016) and a season long competition (May 16 – October 31, 2016) focusing on setting new records for reducing single occupancy travel and as a commitment to environmentally-friendly commuting.

Bike to Work Day Event Sponsors

MAST would like to thank the following event sponsors for their generous support:

  • Advanced Cyclist
  • Brewbakers Cafe
  • City Express Bus
  • Elm City Bagels
  • Hannah Grimes Center
  • Keene Family YMCA
  • Monadnock Buy Local
  • Monadnock Food Co-op
  • Prime Roast Coffee

Help Us Rethink Marlboro Street: Sign Up to Volunteer

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Monadnock Buy Local

Volunteers Needed

The Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST) is looking for volunteers to help with its Rethink Marlboro Street event in Keene on September 19th.  Learn more about Complete Street Demo Days in our region.

Volunteer jobs include:

  • PAINT CREW: Friday 9/18 at 6:00 p.m. – Creating bicycle lanes and crosswalks with removable traffic tape and chalk paint.
  • SETUP CREW: Saturday 9/19 7-11am – Set up education table, pop-up bus stop, bicycle station, planters, benches, etc. (May require lifting.)
  • EVENT CREW: Saturday 9/19 11am-4pm – Gather public input, take pictures, check out green bikes, oversee/supervise design elements.
  • BREAKDOWN CREW: Saturday 9/19 4:00-7pm – Return loaned materials, breakdown of all previously created elements, pick up road tape, cleanup.

If you’d like to sign up for a volunteer shift, please email Mari at mbrunner@swrpc.org.

REThinkMarlboroStreetEventFlyer8.5x11

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Complete Streets in Keene Policy Update

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Keene city staff presented a draft Complete Streets Policy to the Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee on July 22, 2015. Once adopted, hopefully this fall, the policy will help our city approach any transportation work as an, “opportunity to create safer, more accessible streets for all users.”

Complete-Streets-Keene-Design-Guidelines_071515The Keene Complete Streets Planning & Design Guidelines document provides implementation details.  City streets are divided into 6 different types with design recommendations for each type.

Learn more about Complete Streets and stay updated on adoption progress in Keene: Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation.

Becoming a Climate Resilient Community in Keene, NH

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According to the City of Keene’s 2006 – 2008 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, our community is not on target to meet its greenhouse gas emission goal of reducing emissions to 10% below 1995 levels by 2015.  This goal measures if we were moving Keene further towards or away from becoming a Climate Resilient Community.

Since the inventory report indicates we are stepping away from resiliency, it’s imperative for us to take a closer look at this report.

Final Version - Greenhouse Gas_Page_07

The two sectors contributing the most emissions in our community are Transportation and Commercial/Industrial.  Given the reality of living where we do, how can we work together to reduce energy use and the carbon emissions released by these two sectors?

Final Version - 2 Greenhouse Gas_Page_09 copyThe Cities for Climate Protection Committee is focusing on these two top contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and the related targets identified in the City of Keene’s Climate Adaptation Plan.

Currently, the committee is working with the Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation on the feasibility of Car Sharing in our region and with Monadnock Buy Local to identify policies that support our local businesses and their efforts to become more environmentally sustainable.

Consider your place of work and how you get there… how can you support alternative transportation and local living economy efforts at your place of employment?