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Sustainability actions are launching!
A framework for action is created for the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network!
A large crowd of around 50 people gathered on March 12th at the Holy Names Heritage Center to plan for the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network action steps.
We reviewed a draft Sustainability Planning Framework which lists 8 potential Action Areas and how they will create the "triple bottom line" of prosperity, community health and environmental health. Please take a look at what we reviewed at this link. The Framework is followed by a one-page explanation of each Topic Area including a potential vision, some goals, actions in progress, suggested actions and potential partner organizations. These drafts will be refined by Action Teams over the summer in the four areas that garnered the most interest at the meeting: energy, water, economic vitality and food.
Other teams can be formed according to interest expressed. If you were not at the meeting to note your preference, please click the link here to tell us if you are interested in joining a team, or if you are working in this area, and would like support or recognition for your work.
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Seven reasons that the new Lake Oswego Transportation System Plan (TSP) promotes sustainability!
Lake Oswego has just released a draft of the transportation plan. Follow the link to read it.
1) The plan balances the need for driving with a vision for increasing access to walking and biking; 2) The plan takes a comprehensive look at the city, and chooses where to put limited resources over time; 3) The plan will focus on providing safe access for children -- and we know that walking and an active life are critical during childhood; 4) The plan proposes new paths that will help us access our beautiful parks; 5) The plan proposes reasonable funding ideas; 6) The plan emphasizes safety for Lake Oswego citizens; 7) The plan is built on careful work, over two years, by the Citizen Transportation Advisory Board (TAB), Lake Oswego City staff, and outside experts.
If you agree that active transportation matters, let the city council know by emailing Amanda Owens (aowings@ci.oswego.or.us) or attending the Council meeting (see calendar of events). |
Could we have more bicycle riders in Lake Oswego?
Impossible! We are too old (or too young). It is too rainy. It is too hilly. It isn't safe. All true for now. At this point almost all the Lake Oswego bike riders (and there are some) are muscular athletes...mostly men.
But all that could change if we made biking safer and more attractive. We have plenty of sunny days. New bikes with electrical assist will help with the hills. Other suburbs around the country are finding that if it is perceived to be safe and comfortable, people of all ages will bike. And they will love it!
Suburbs are becoming the newest bicycle-friendly communities, and the riders are not all in spandex. Kids, grandmothers and everyone in between will enjoy the healthy affects of biking if they can. Communities that succeed are those that do a little planning.
"A simple striped bike lane that might be sufficient on a narrow city street with slow-moving traffic might be inadequate on a suburban arterial" says an article in steetbloggerUSA.
To make biking safe for all, planners need to provide adequate space and maybe a buffer zone between a bike lane and the street. Hillsboro Oregon planners have studied the issue and came out with a toolkit to help cities plan for bike riding in a way that is appropriate for the population. Lake Oswego can be a vastly improved place for biking with some thoughtful planning.
Let's ride!
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