Good Works Columbus: July 15, 2024
Mt. Vernon Bike Project, Matter News Community Conversations, Yay Bikes! Bike Plus Ride
Intro
Hi everyone, happy Monday! It’s going to be a hot one this week so be sure to stay cool out there. Columbus is opening cooling centers and extending hours for the pools and spraygrounds as well.
If you have an upcoming event or a link you’d like to share for the newsletter, feel free to send suggestions.
Things you can do in person
MT. VERNON AVENUE BIKEWAY PROJECT – PHASE 1
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE MEETING
(Wednesday, July 17 5:30pm-7:30pm: Ohio State African American & African Studies, Community Extension Center905 Mt. Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203)
The City of Columbus (in partnership with ODOT) would like to invite you to participate in a public open house meeting. Public input is an important part of the project development process and provides valuable feedback that helps guide decision-making through all phases of development. The City of Columbus is developing improvements for Mt. Vernon Avenue. The purpose of the improvements is to address and improve safety issues, specifically for bicyclists and pedestrians. The proposed project will add on-street separated bike lanes, incorporating bus islands, sidewalk bump-outs, and sidewalk and curb repairs on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and Mt. Vernon Avenue from Hamilton Avenue to Champion Avenue.The city is seeking public input regarding the design of these proposed improvements. We hope you can join us for the upcoming public meeting where the project team will explain the overall project, present potential impacts, answer your questions, and receive your input. All residents, visitors, and those who frequent the area are invited to attend.
Matter News Community Conversations: Caring for the Unhoused 🏠
(Thursday, July 18 8:00pm: Two Dollar Radio HQ 1124 Parson Ave Columbus, OH)
Join Matter News editor Andy Downing, celebrated author Hanif Abdurraqib and Heer to Serve founder Emily Myers at Two Dollar Radio HQ for a community conversation centered on Matter’s recent reporting related to the city’s unhoused residents. This is the first in a monthly series that will address rotating subjects on the third Thursday of each month.Yay Bikes! Bike Ride - Bike Plus Plan 🚲
(Saturday, July 20 10:00am-1:00pm: The Boat House 679 W Spring St Columbus, OH)
The City of Columbus Bike Plus planning team is looking forward to riding with Yay Bikes! We will talk about the current status of Bike Plus, immediate next steps, and timeline for wrapping up the planning process. Stops will highlight projects that are scheduled to be constructed in the next five years.Columbus Youth Climate Action Fund 🌎
This new micro grant program is now accepting applications for youth-led climate projects that support environmental justice and meeting our Columbus Climate Action Plan goals. A project can receive up to $5,000 from the grant and applications will be accepted through 8/2. For more details on the program, including how to apply, check the link here.MORPC/GOhio commute Summer Commute Challenge (July 1-August 31) 🚍
Do you ever carpool or vanpool, take transit, bike, walk, or ride an e-scooter to work? Have you thought about trying one of these sustainable transportation modes? With Gohio Commute's Make Your Miles Matter: Summer Challenge, you can earn rewards for simply logging the trips that you already take!Join our July-August Commuting Challenge by logging trips between July 1 – August 31, 2024 and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $50 gift cards. Registration & contest details can be found at GohioCommute.com/MORPC. Please contact the Gohio Commute team at Gohio@morpc.org with any questions you may have.
Things you can do online
[Project Sidewalk] 👩🏽🦽Help map out sidewalk accessibility issues in Columbus! Check out the link here to help map out the rest of Columbus.
What is Project Sidewalk?Roughly 30.6 million individuals in the US have physical disabilities that affect their ambulatory activities; nearly half of those individuals report using an assistive aid such as a wheelchair, cane, crutches, or walker. Despite comprehensive civil rights legislation for Americans with disabilities, many city streets, sidewalks, and businesses remain inaccessible. The problem is not just that street-level accessibility affects where and how people travel in cities but also that there are few, if any, mechanisms to determine accessible areas of a city a priori.
This project describes a two-pronged vision: first, to develop scalable data collection methods for acquiring sidewalk accessibility information using a combination of crowdsourcing, computer vision, and online map imagery, and second, to use this new data to design, develop, and evaluate a novel set of navigation and map tools for accessibility. Our overarching goal is to transform the ways in which accessibility information is collected and visualized for every sidewalk, street, and building façade in America.
[National] Ask your U.S. Senator to support the EXPLORE Act.
This historic legislation will significantly improve and expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities across America’s public lands.
The EXPLORE Act will support and grow outdoor recreation opportunities across the country so all Americans can get outside and enjoy our public lands. The bill includes provisions to streamline permitting processes to support bike guides and outfitters, identify new long-distance bike trails, increase recreation access for underserved communities, and more.
Other Stuff
Bikes For All People (934 Parsons Ave. Columbus, OH 43206) are seeking bicycle trailers for their patrons that need to transport goods. If you have a child or pet trailer that you aren’t using please consider donating.
Save the Date
Why Climate Justice Matters 🌎
(Saturday, July 27 2-4:00pm: 905 Mt. Vernon Ave Columbus, OH)
Come join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the importance of climate justice at 905 Mt Vernon Ave. Our event aims to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on marginalized communities and the urgent need for equitable solutions.
Listen to inspiring speakers, engage in interactive workshops, and connect with like-minded individuals passionate about creating a more sustainable future for all. Let's come together to explore why climate justice matters and how we can make a difference!
In Case You Missed It
LinkUS Engagement Survey (2 minutes)
Mark up the Vision Zero Columbus map. Have a close call walking, biking, or getting around town? Do you know a dangerous intersection that can be improved? Help identify these spots on the Vision Zero map.
Have a great day everyone!