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Yep. That is EXACTLY what you think it is!
We can't wait!
Can't wait for the protected bike lane demo opening at @openstreets704
Walk This Way
EVERYONE Should Have Easy Access to Public Transit
Sometimes, getting around without a car isn’t as easy as it could or should be. And that’s what’s driving Sustain Charlotte’s Walk2Transit initiative and their ask for you to be a part of it. The Walk2Transit goal is to, “gives a voice to bus riders and transit advocates,” and lead to improved and easier walkable access to some of Charlotte’s highest need bus stops.
Here’s why Sustain Charlotte says this is so important:
3 out of every 4 public transportation trips in the CATS service area are bus rides. While rail service gets most of the news coverage and publicity, buses are moving far more of us to our daily destinations.
Yet many bus riders face unpleasant and unsafe barriers as they walk to and from their stops. Bus riders frequently encounter:
• No sidewalks to the bus stop
• No shelter or seating at the bus stop
• No safe way to cross the street between the bus stop and their destination
• Conditions that make it nearly impossible for a disabled person or parent with small children to safely reach a bus stop
So what can be done with that sort of info? That’s where we can all play a part by volunteering for a Walkability Tour. The tours will be guided by Sustain Charlotte staff and give you the opportunity to learn about the history and current state of Charlotte’s transit system.
“This is an opportunity to make sure everyone has a comfortable and dignified walk to the bus stop,” said Sustain Charlotte’s Meg Fencil.
Volunteering is easy. Just check out this link or email meg.Fencil@sustaincharlotte.org to ask questions or get in on an existing tour. The perfect group size is about ten people, so bring friends. You’ll be bettering access to public transit options, and making a huge difference in your own hometown!
Happy Earth Day
Google Doodle is Reminder of Easy Ways to Make a Difference
We’ll admit it. We love the Google Doodle. We’ve picked up bits on famous people, special days, and other helpful bits, or just enjoyed the general diversion on our way to whatever it was we were after.
In today’s Doodle, our friend the fox is back with his other cute, cartoon pals – and he’s got a pretty serious reminder about why Earth Day is worth celebrating.
Spoiler alert: Here’s the long and short of how the story goes. Our fox friend wakes from a fitful sleep, after nightmares about what could be. But rather than wait and worry, he springs into action to make a difference. And better still, he enlists his friends to come along for the ride.
Google Doodler Sophie Diao told writer Madeline Buxton she did her homework before creating her Earth Day Doodle.
“I did a lot of research into coral bleaching for the doodle, and it surprised and saddened me that these underwater ecosystems were so fragile,” says Google doodler Sophie Diao. “I also learned how everything is interconnected, so the rising temperatures in the sea lead to all kinds of effects beyond just melting ice caps.”
Instead of taking a macro approach to enacting change, Diao went smaller.
“I wanted to focus the Doodle on what an individual contributor can do for the environment,” says Diao. “There’s a lot of distressing news about changes to our ecosystems, but it can be hard to know how to help as just one person. That’s why I wanted to create a story about individuals coming together to do something about it.”
Conserving doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, following through to the end of today’s Doodle you’ll find several easy things to do that can make a big difference if we all just do a little.
Enjoy! We’re looking forward to seeing you all for some outdoor time May 7 and the next Open Streets 704 powered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.