Getting There
Cambridge is a city designed for people. That may seem obvious, but many cities and towns across the country are designed for cars -- full of highways, large buildings, giant parking lots, no sidewalks, unsafe to bike in, and little to no public transportation.
Green Cambridge's vision to unlock the full potential of our city's urban fabric by increasing access to transit, make biking safer and available to all riders, and put pedestrians as the priority.
Luckily metro Boston has many wonderful organizations full of passionate experts making great strides in this area. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them and support their work through shared advocacy, participation and sponsorship of events, and giving advice on how to best integrate more green into transportation projects.
Specifically, we work with Cambridge Bike Safety, LivableStreets, the Boston Cyclists Union, WalkBoston, GreenStreets Initiative, and others as a coalition of groups that share the same goal: sustainable transportation for all.
Green Cambridge's vision to unlock the full potential of our city's urban fabric by increasing access to transit, make biking safer and available to all riders, and put pedestrians as the priority.
Luckily metro Boston has many wonderful organizations full of passionate experts making great strides in this area. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them and support their work through shared advocacy, participation and sponsorship of events, and giving advice on how to best integrate more green into transportation projects.
Specifically, we work with Cambridge Bike Safety, LivableStreets, the Boston Cyclists Union, WalkBoston, GreenStreets Initiative, and others as a coalition of groups that share the same goal: sustainable transportation for all.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Appropriate technology used appropriately. This is our vision of transportation. Most of our daily trips can be easily accomplished by walking, biking, or taking public transportation. Or even a ride hailing service or an hourly car rental.
Sometimes we have to drive: we're recovering from an injury, we're transporting something large or heavy, we are with a large family, etc. The automobile has its place at times. But it is a flawed technology; it pollutes the environment at every point in its lifecycle, its use kills nearly 40,000 people each year, it separates us from our community through speed and a sealed environment. Our road infrastructure depletes funding for other more community-focused activities.
How can we do better with the resources we have? Green Cambridge's vision for sustainable transportation is similar to what we would say for other resources: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.
Sometimes we have to drive: we're recovering from an injury, we're transporting something large or heavy, we are with a large family, etc. The automobile has its place at times. But it is a flawed technology; it pollutes the environment at every point in its lifecycle, its use kills nearly 40,000 people each year, it separates us from our community through speed and a sealed environment. Our road infrastructure depletes funding for other more community-focused activities.
How can we do better with the resources we have? Green Cambridge's vision for sustainable transportation is similar to what we would say for other resources: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.
- Let's reuse the existing right-of-way that prioritizes transit, walking, and biking. This means some space for automobiles needs to be given up in favor of the other modes.
- Let's reduce vehicle miles traveled over all so there is less demand for lanes, parking spaces, and energy.
- Let's recycle our dominant gasoline-powered system into one that prioritizes electric vehicles powered by solar panels.
Sustainable Transportation = Equitable Resiliency
In the end, having access to all kinds of sustainable transportation means vulnerable populations can get where they need at a cost they can afford. It cleans the air, connects us to neighborhood businesses and our community, and provides more for people and green space. Its the best use of our existing resources to benefit the health and safety of all!
