The past year was a big one for Living Streets Alliance, including four asphalt-art 'quick build' infrastructure projects, a brand new Cyclovia route, engaging the community around Tucson’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan—Tucson Resilient Together, working in coalition to keep transit permanently fare-free, and so much more.
None of this work would have been possible without robust partnerships and thoughtful collaborators from across the community. And, of course, people like you! Thank you for your steadfast support, partnership, and dedication as we go forward, and for continuing to make the community-building programs we all enjoy year-round— Cyclovia Tucson, Safe Routes to School, and Quick Builds—possible. We could not do it without you.
Fall 2023 marks our 20th Cyclovia Tucson Open Streets event!
SAVE THE DATE for Sunday, October 29th, from 9 AM to 3 PM!
Living Streets Alliance is delighted to announce our 20th Cyclovia Tucson event! We're gearing up to celebrate this major milestone in our twelve-year history advocating for a more fun, safe, sustainable, and equitable Tucson.
The route will bridge Downtown and one of the most diverse areas in Tucson - the Amphi neighborhood. It's been eight years since we activated this particular route highlighting the 4th Ave/Fontana Bicycle Boulevard and we're excited to extend it even further North so you can enjoy over three miles of car-free, care-free streets.
Walk, bike, play, explore—during Cyclovia, the streets are yours!
Please arrive an hour early to be ready & make friends over pints (non-alc. options also available). This is NOT a loop ride, so please have your own safe (car or bicycle) plan for the return trip - a group will likely bike back downtown. Please also come prepared with a helmet, water bottles, bike lock, and lights!
LSA, Literacy Connects & Amphi Neighborhood Community Resource Fair
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, September 23rd, 10 AM - 1 PM
Literacy Connects
200 E Yavapai Road
As part of our 20th Cyclovia Tucson event - outreach, we are collaborating with the Amphi Neighborhood & Literacy Connects - a local nonprofit organization dedicated to "connecting people of all ages to a world of opportunities through literacy and creative expression," located in the Amphi neighborhood.
You Are Invited to this free Resource Fair, whereagencies are coming to you for assistance with: rental and utility, healthcare, government benefits, and much more.
Sun Tran is proposing changes to bus service including elimination of routes, changes in frequency, and some additional evening/weekend coverage. (Endangered routes may include route numbers 1, 3, 5, 19, 23, 34 and Sun Express trips).
There are (in-person and online) public forums through the month of August where you can provide feedback and share concerns about the changes and/or the public comment process itself. There's also an online survey collecting information about how proposed changes and route discontinuations will affect people's usage. All comments in this process are recorded and made available to Mayor & Council.
By understanding the tradeoffs required to make 'cost-neutral' changes like these and participating in the conversation around transit service, we can advocate for the City of Tucson and Pima Association of Governments to secure dedicated funding for long-term, sustainable, safe, and equitable transportation security in Tucson.
Cyclovia is just around the corner and we can't do it without you. Cyclovia volunteers are valued community members, of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, willing to lend a hand on the big day.
There are MANY ways to volunteer at Cyclovia, including solo and as a group. You can even choose where you want to be located and what part of the event you want to help with...
Article:
How College Students Can Help Save Public Transit
CityLab explores how programs that offer unlimited bus and train rides for those enrolled in colleges and universities can breed a new generation of transit fans.
The nation's leading conference on all-things transit is coming to Arizona this fall, happening in Phoenix, November 5th-8th. See what it's all about and don't miss it!
Join us this October, for the 1st National
Week Without Driving
There are many reasons why nearly a third of all people living in the United States cannot and/or do not drive, and those of us who can/do often have a hard time putting ourselves in their shoes.
In order to better understand what it’s like to rely solely on walking, wheel chairs, multi-modal transport, ride sharing, and public or borrowed transit—as loads of people with disabilities, young people, seniors, and people who can’t afford cars and/or fuel do every day—we're joining advocates across the country in encouraging participation in the first national Week Without Driving event, October 2-8, 2023.
As the title implies, the idea is to not drive and to pay attention to how mobility and access become so much more limited as a result. Any form of participation counts, whether you choose not to drive for one day, or simply pause to reflect on what life would look like without your car keys. We especially encourage our local elected leaders to participate - sending a message that we care about the more than 100 million people who need driving alternatives and the policies and infrastructure to support them.
We’re excited to welcome two new team members, Alan Ruiz Berman as our Marketing & Development Manager, and Sofia Moraga Franco as our Bicycle Initiatives Coordinator (photos above). Both Alan and Sofia are originally from Latin America, Mexico and Chile respectively, and both are Tucson residents who are passionate about working with under-represented communities to build a more hopeful future.
This summer also marks a bittersweet transition as we offer Valerie Sipp, one of our longstanding team members, well wishes in her new full-time position within the University of Arizona's Department of Diversity and Inclusion. Valerie says,
"While I'm excited to begin my next adventure, I am heartbroken to be leaving a place that has taught me so much. Thanks to LSA I have learned how to be a better advocate, leader, and community member. Some of the proudest moments of my career have been with LSA and I look forward to seeing them continue to build community and help Tucson become the equitable, safe, and sustainable city that I know it can be."
We're hiring! Join the LSA team as Director of Advocacy & Policy or Manager of Operations
Heading into the second half of 2023, we're excited to announce two opportunities to join the LSA Team!
We're looking for an experienced transportation professional to become our Director of Advocacy & Policy. This role will drive our strategy and approach to impact transportation policy through advocacy campaigns and initiatives. They'll build upon our successful history of advancing and garnering support for policies and infrastructure projects focused on multi-modal mobility and will spearhead advocacy initiatives at the intersection of transportation, land use, environment, climate, and social justice. As part of this role, they will develop effective strategies to influence decision-making at both the grassroots and grass-tops levels and mobilize people to take action on transportation issues in our community. They will build collaborative relationships with community-based organizations, nonprofits, elected officials, governmental agency leaders and staff, and other key stakeholders.
We're also recruiting for an experienced administrative professional to serve as Manager of Operations. They/She/He will provide administrative support, move forward systems and processes for optimal business operations, and support team members in developing and implementing mission-critical events, programs, and initiatives. As the backbone of the organization, they'll ensure team members have everything they need to do their jobs effectively and that systems are running smoothly.
June marked the kick-off of a monthly evening bike ride, starting from Pueblo Vida Brewery downtown. Join LSA and friends for a leisurely, beginner-friendly bike ride through the city the 3rd Saturday of each month through September. Bring a friend, lights, water, and a helmet, and get ready to have fun!
This month we'll ride to the final FC Tucson match of the season at Kino Sports Complex. You'll get a free ticket into the game when you join the ride!
Gather at Pueblo Vida Brewing Co. Saturday, July 15th, 6:00 PM
115 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson AZ 85701
Take Action:
Dangerous cars shouldn't receive top safety ratings!
For the first time ever, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed to rate cars based on safety for pedestrians through its New Car Assessment Program - a five-star safety rating program advertised to consumers.
Under the current proposal, a vehicle could receive a failing grade for pedestrian safety, but still earn a five-star safety rating. This is unacceptable and misrepresents a vehicle as safe when it is NOT.
Now is the opportunity for NHTSA to take meaningful action and incorporate pedestrian safety ratings into its star safety ratings. Tell NHTSA it needs to protect pedestrians by submitting your public comment with just one click through America Walks' action alert page.
(Note: Our thanks to America Walks for generating this call to action!)
As Downtowns Struggle, Businesses Learn to Love Bike Lanes
"From Manhattan to San Francisco, the need to rethink the urban core is encouraging business improvement districts to change their tune on prioritizing cars." Read more >>
The Case for Ending Free Parking
"The origin of the parking problem is that on-street parking is free or underpriced. The solution is to charge or charge more. The ideal amount to charge is whatever it takes to reduce demand such that most of the spots on a block are used but there’s usually one or two available for drivers who come along and need to park. This isn’t a new idea. What is new is that it’s being embraced by cities around the world."
