National Clearinghouse Showcases Watertown's Safe Routes Program

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is a nationwide clearinghouse for information pertinent to Safe Routes to School programs around the country. One of the resources they maintain to assist communities in starting SRTS programs is a compendium of case studies. Recently, Watertown's SRTS program was written up, and is now available on the Center's site. Click here to view the article (PDF).

Safe Routes to School awarded grant by Watertown Community Foundation

Watertown's already successful Safe Routes to School initiative will get another shot in the arm upon receipt of a $1700 grant from the Watertown Community Foundation. The funds are targeted to the purchase of pedometers, which students use to track the distances they walk. Health educators have approved the use of pedometers as a means to motivate students as they are educated on the benefits of walking.

Congratulations are in order for all the people who volunteer to make this program successful, and especially to WBPC member Mari Ryan who has worked tirelessly on the Safe Routes to School program. The Watertown Community Foundation also deserves credit for its thoughtful recognition and support of the initiative.

Boston Globe reports surge in biking, bike commuting

A recent article in the Boston Globe reports record numbers of bicycles on the road. No doubt the price of gas is convincing more people to get back in the saddle. Anyone who bikes around Watertown will certainly agree -- the number of cyclists out there is definitely up this spring.

If you're new to bike commuting, take a look at the slides from our recent presentation on bike commuting. There's lots of useful pointers about the ins and outs of getting to and from work on your bike.

Watertown Bikers Take Advantage of New Racks

Earlier this spring, the Watertown DPW installed about 40 new bike racks around town, and they are getting good use. The racks were installed primarlily around Watertown Square and Coolidge Square, and there are new racks at Victory Field and other locations as well. The image to the right was taken in Coolidge Square.

The Town acquired these racks at no cost through a grant program sponsored by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, a state agency whose mission includes the promotion of alternative transportation. DPW Superintendent Gerry Mee recognized this opportunity to realize a a substantial infrastructure improvement at minimal cost to the Town. The work was started last fall, and completed in April.

All around town, cyclists have been locking up to the new racks, most of which are in convenient locations next to businesses and recreational resources. Besides giving cyclists secure parking, the racks have the added benefit of getting bikes off of trees, which can be damaged, and off of signposts and parking meters, where they are often insecure and in the way of pedestrians. The WBPC encourages cyclists to take full advantage of the new racks, and to let us know if there are other places where a rack is badly needed.