“Let’s walk and not pollute our way to work today,” said Janie Katz-Christy, a native to Cambridge, Mass.
Katz-Christy cultivated a program known as the Green Streets Initiative, which aims to promote, advocate, and celebrate the use of alternative forms of transportation.
Katz-Christy – who does not even own a car – wanted to find a way to create safer, quieter, and healthier streets for citizens of all ages. “We can change the laws and ask the government to get involved, but we can also just do it ourselves.”
And so, Katz-Christy began the Green Streets Initiative, which soon led to Walk-Ride Days. On the last Friday of every month, Cambridge “goes green” as commuters are encouraged to walk or ride their bikes instead of drive. “We wanted to figure out a way to change people’s habits,” said Katz-Christy, “and the only way to do it was something really, really tiny, and repetitive.” She said the Walk-Ride Days have received a fantastic response, and that she has seen an “incredible change of transportation mode” since their establishment.
Denise Simmons, the mayor of Cambridge, has been very supportive of the Green Streets Initiative and Walk-Ride Days, and said she participates monthly by walking her grandchildren to school. “People don’t know of some of the easy ways they can participate in Walk-Ride Days,” she said, and suggested riding a bike, walking, using public transportation, or carpooling. Mayor Simmons said the Walk-Ride Days provide an opportunity for children and adults alike to learn about alternative forms of transportation, and that the idea is spreading like wildfire. “Not only are we making a difference in our town, we’re making a difference statewide – people are hearing about what we’re doing.” The program, which began in March of 2006, has since spread to Somerville, Medford, and areas in Boston.
The Walk-Ride Days do not simply end with walking or riding a bike once a month. On one Walk-Ride Day in the past, citizens of Cambridge participated in a bike marathon throughout the city, receiving a green apple at the end of the race. Citizens are also encouraged to wear green on Walk-Ride Days, as they can receive incentives offered by local businesses on the last Friday of every month. Incentives include a free half-scoop of ice cream at Toscanini’s Ice Cream, a $100 discount off of any pair of glasses at Vision House, and a 10 percent discount on any purchase at the Greenward Eco-Boutique.
Dick Powers, owner of the Bicycle Exchange at Porter Square, offers a 10 percent discount on any bike accessories on Walk-Ride Days. He said that he has seen a substantial amount of participation on the last Friday of every month, and loves to see everyone out riding bikes. When asked how he has contributed to Cambridge’s efforts to “go green,” Powers said, “it’s easy, I sell bikes!”
However, the locals just see the discounts as an added perk, and are willing and excited to contribute to a better community. Asha Saluja, a student at Harvard University, wore green on the last Walk-Ride Day and got to take $1 off of the cost of her lunch at Grendel’s Den. “Walking and riding are easy to do in Cambridge anyway; Walk-Ride Day is something everyone should participate in once a month, if not more!”
Katz-Christy’s Green Streets Initiative has been more than successful in Cambridge, and has a promising future. “The whole world has changed so much in the last few years,” she said, as she reflected on the rate at which her program has grown. “We’ve had lots of interest from all over, from New Jersey, California, Missouri, and the Pioneer Valley.” It appears that everyone is interested in “going green” lately, and Katz-Christy’s plan to start small can aid in this common goal. The headline of the Green Streets Initiative web site says it all: “Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
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