The "Hannaford Helps" reusable bag program has supported over 1000 local causes to the tune of $207,409. And now, if you purchase a "Hannaford Helps" reusable bag at the South Burlington store on Dorset Street, you will also be supporting your favorite Vermont walk and bike advocacy organization.

This summer, Shelburne demonstrated that making streets and roads safer for people walking and biking—not to mention driving—doesn't have to cost a fortune or take forever. Local Motion helped them get there.  How can we help in YOUR community?  If you have a goal for walking or biking that you need help getting traction on, fill us in!  We review all suggested goals and look for ones that have legs, then we work directly with community residents to make those goals a reality.

ADD YOUR GOAL HERE

The Department of Public Service invites all interested Vermonters to provide input on the standards the Department must create per Act 174 of 2016 for determining consistency of regional and municipal plans with state energy policy. The Department will host a forum to gather input on August 30, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Montpelier at the Vermont College of Fine Arts (Noble Hall). An online survey is also available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WMTZFF2. 

The safe and complete streets campaign is all about working with communities across Vermont to make roads in their towns work better for all. Recently, the Safe Streets Project in Brattelboro teamed up with the Brattleboro Department of Public Works and the Holton Home for elder care to ensure that residents of the home are visible when crossing the street. Read on to hear about how the pilot is helping a vulnerable community reclaim the road!

The Town of Waitsfield is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to provide engineering and design services for the development of the Waitsfield Pocket Park. The project involves design, permitting, and construction of a public pocket park in Waitsfield Village, along the Mad River, adjacent to the historic 1833 Big Eddy Covered Bridge.

It looks like Rep. Welch and Sen. Sanders are walk-bike advocates as well! On July 25th, both of the Vermont government officials signed on to a letter calling on the Department of Transportation to consider EVERYONE-- not just vehicles-- when measuring the performance of America's roads. And for that, Local Motion thanks you!

Recently, Local Motion got an inquiry from a contact at GMT (formerly CCTA) about the four-foot passing law.  They said a driver had asked why exactly it was necessary to give a minimum of four feet of clearance when passing someone on a bike.  We were so glad they asked!  GMT puts a major emphasis on safety, and bike-bus interactions are an area where special conditions apply.  Here's what we told them about why four feet is so important:

Saturday July 16 was a day to be remembered in Montpelier. Local Motion and friends gathered in front of the Golden Dome for fun and games, education and outreach on innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and of course...ICE CREAM! Then, that same afternoon, our amazing volunteers provided free valet bike parking for over 70 attendees of the Do Good Fest.

That's right, horses have equal access to the road! In Vermont, it is not uncommon to run into horse riders on your daily excursions. For most of us, the demeanor and needs of horses are unfamiliar. How should you behave in order to ensure the safety of both the rider and yourself? Here are a few helpful hints...

Not even a cold rainy day could stop a crew of cyclists from attending the Lake Monsters baseball game FOR FREE this past Sunday. Local Motion provided valet bike parking and safety tips, while a slew of other local organizations offered free helmets, bike check-ups, and escorted bike trains. The grand total of bikes checked into valet parking? An impressive showing of over sixty bikes!