As many of you know, there is a growing movement among Beacon Hill residents interested in safely getting people of all ages and abilities around and to destinations within our neighborhood on foot and bicycle. This propelled Beacon BIKES, a growing group of community members, to obtain the knowledge and expertise of a consultant to bring our collective vision to fruition.

In Spring 2010, Beacon BIKES received a generous matching funds grant from the Department of Neighborhoods. We used our Small and Simple grant to hire Alta Planning + Design as our transportation consultant from among three enthusiastic applicants. Beacon BIKES believes that pedestrians and cyclists encounter similar obstacles in getting around our neighborhood and that facilities that address both modes make the most sense. This philosophy is in line with Alta’s belief in “integrating all modes of travel (including walking and bicycling) into the daily lives of residents and creating healthy, safe, and sustainable communities.” Most importantly, they offer an interactive approach geared to keeping the neighborhood informed and involved throughout the process. Alta's final report and recommendation was released June 2011. Please visit our homepage to download a copy of the report.

All this is great news, but in order for this to work, we’ll need anyone and everyone to chime in at our monthly Beacon BIKES meetings to make this a
uniquely Beacon Hill plan. For more information, please visit our events page or e-mail christine@beaconwalksbikes.org.