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- Complete a 30 Day Challenge
- Report the impact of your project
Welcome to the Better Block Foundation's Slow Streets program page. The Better Block Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that educates, equips, and empowers communities and their leaders to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. We'll walk you through the Slow/Shared Streets concept to set up a program in your own neighborhood. Let's get started!
- Jason Roberts, Founder, Better Block Foundation
The Idea
Throughout COVID-19, vehicular traffic has reduced, while the need for spaces for people has increased. In order to create safe spaces for people to spread out and exercise, we need to rethink how our streets are used. You can slow down the streets in your community by working with city leaders to shut streets down to thru traffic and opening them to activiti...
The Idea
Throughout COVID-19, vehicular traffic has reduced, while the need for spaces for people has increased. In order to create safe spaces for people to spread out and exercise, we need to rethink how our streets are used. You can slow down the streets in your community by working with city leaders to shut streets down to thru traffic and opening them to activities such as walking, running, and bicycling while maintaining safe social distancing.
Most Slow Streets programs are made possible by city leadership, you, and tactical urbanism. What is tactical urbanism? It’s a movement that began a little more than a decade ago by neighbors who wanted to make improvements to their streets and sidewalks. Generally, the initiatives are grassroots, and quickly implemented with lower-cost items that can demonstrate a potential long-term change.
ChangeX and Better Block Foundation have teamed up with Microsoft to provide funding for neighborhoods to implements Slow Streets programs to build healthy, vibrant and connected neighborhoods. You can apply here, complete the 30 Day Challenge and access funding to start this project in your neighborhood.
I found it a good excuse to meet my neighbors...I can come in through my front yard, use my porch, be safe here, my kids...don't have to run around in our driveway. They can run around through the street and come back to the driveway without this huge fear of somebody coming 30 plus mph and maybe having a huge accident.
- Dr. Diana Torres Rivera
How to get involved
Time: The initial planning should take up to 3–6 hours before deciding to talk to your city leadership for approval. Once approved, the transformation of your neighborhood street could take from 2 days to 1 week to complete.5 Steps
Who?
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- Complete a 30 Day Challenge
- Report the impact of your project