What South Tucson neighbors are saying about Calles Compartidas
South Tucson residents have been experiencing a change on South 8th Avenue as Shared Streets (Calles Compartidas) has taken shape over the last three months, welcoming residents to experience the one and a half miles of neighborhood streets at a slower pace. Modeled after similar slow streets programs that took hold in the wake of the pandemic, signs and barricades have converted South 8th Avenue as a public space for families and neighbors to walk, bike, or scoot along. Over the course of the last few weeks, we have heard from countless neighbors. Not only have those conversations been about listening to feedback about the program, but already their collective stories are beginning to shape a vision for their neighborhood streets.
Manny Valencia grew up in South Tucson and lives on 8th Avenue, next door to his mother. Him and his family always look forward to Cyclovia and were excited to get involved with Shared Streets. “Since Covid, we’ve been home together a lot more. And that’s been really nice to spend more quality time as a family. The other evening, my girls played volleyball in the street right in front of our house [on 8th Avenue]. They were joined by a little neighbor girl who was excited for her new bike that her tata had just given her. She was riding up and down the street so carefree.” Manny is one of eleven residents who are serving as Neighborhood Stewards, doing on-the-ground outreach and regularly monitor the barricades and signage.
Neighborhood stewards have been invaluable as on-the-ground liaisons in a community that relies heavily on word-of-mouth communication. Francisco Robles is another neighborhood steward who called LSA to get involved. Him and his family helped install the traffic-circle near Ochoa School, and they saw how positive that project was and continues to be for the community. He explains that as a steward, he has spoken with neighbors who at first seem frustrated by the barricades and signage, “But then I explain to them what we are doing, that we want safer streets for the kids, and that all this is going to help slow down drivers. And they become more fond of the idea after I talk to them.”
While neighbors expected to see barricades up until the end of last year, residents have voiced support to leave the program in place a little longer while cool temperatures are still here. Clement Ortiz is one of several neighbors who explained why he is in favor of keeping Shared Streets going, “All the barricades and signage make a big difference especially with the quarantine. All our kids are doing school at home now, but they go ride their bikes now pretty much every day! I go walk with them, and we do it as a family.”
During door-to-door canvassing, phone calls, on-street conversations and socially-distant bike repair clinics, LSA has had the opportunity to connect with a spectrum of neighbors. Vanessa Cascio, LSA’s Director of Family & Youth Initiatives shares a snapshot of the feedback from just the bike repair clinics, “Since Calles Compartidas launched in mid-October, we have had over 200 conversations and interactions with neighbors who live on and around South 8th Avenue. They have been generous in sharing their stories with us, especially during this time of incredible stress. It’s amazing to hear their desire to have access to safer, friendlier streets. Like the neighbor whose 18 year-old son with autism doesn’t perceive traffic safety and he was just gleeful to have his bike fixed up and have a safe space to ride. Or the daughter caring for her mother with dementia who sometimes leaves their house confused, and she told us how having a slower, calmer neighborhood street puts her mind at ease. Then there was the 56-year old woman originally from Nogales who called our infoline because she was so excited to teach herself how to ride a bike to get healthy. And I’ll never forget the retired custodian who found us at the bike repair clinics, not once, but twice! The first time she was driving her pick-up truck, then the second time she was actually riding the bicycle we had fixed up for her the week before. She was absolutely joyful to be able to ride her bike again and brought us all iced teas as a gift of her gratitude. Neighbors see value in having healthy neighborhood streets for a variety of reasons, and with people yearning for connection, now more than ever, being outdoors is really one of the safest and healthiest ways for people to experience that feeling.”
While resident feedback about Shared Streets has been mostly positive, it has also become quite clear that the barricades and signage which serve as pop-up traffic calming features have sparked conversations about neighborhood needs and desires. Residents have been asking how to make the temporary treatments permanent and often point to the artistic-traffic circles which decorate the corridor, inspiring plans for the coming year!
Interview with South Tucson resident, Yalitza Fernanda Naranjo, by Gene Martinez
As Shared Streets formed in response to the pandemic, several partners responded immediately to support this community effort, including LSA’s business partners Technicians for Sustainability and Psomas, and Pima County Dept. of Environmental Quality. The program also received support form the Somos Uno/We Are One Fund held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. The willingness and generosity of these partners is so appreciated, as it went to support South Tucson neighborhood stewards and South Tucson partners who have been crucial to shaping the program.