We need your help to ensure City Council acts on the Plan Commission’s advice and adopts the ordinance! All it takes is showing up, signing in in support, and sticking around to see what happens on Monday December 19th at 6pm at City Hall.

Really want to testify? Lots of info can be found herewww.futurewise.org/spokane/completestreets

Can you do more? Here are four things you can do to help us pass this common sense approach to transportation projects by the end of this year.

1) Sign the Complete Streets Petition and pass it on to friends! Click here to sign.

2) Write a personal letter or call your councilperson. Thank them for bringing this to a vote, let them know what neighborhood you are from, and why you care. Stay positive, this is a great step forward for Spokane! Their number is 625-6255 or their emails are firstinitiallast name@spokanecity.org

3) Tell Mayor Elect Condon’s transition team you want to see complete streets in Spokane! Ask them to support following the Comprehensive Plan by addressing all the users of the street when a major street project is done instead of taking a piecemeal approach to building and maintaining our streets. The team has a form for your feedback herehttp://condontransition.wufoo.com/forms/community-feedback/.
4) Did we mention spreading the word about the petition? Please do that right now! Complete Streets Spokane petition.

There are three key reasons why Spokane needs complete streets:

• Safety: We have a high per capita rate of pedestrian and cyclist deaths averaging 20 bicycle or pedestrian related injury accidents per month — that’s 120 people seriously injured every year!
• Accessibility: Many of our bus stops do not have sidewalks, and many of the bus stops that are serviced by sidewalks do not have the curb ramps required by the Americans with Disabilities act to make them feasible for wheelchairs — forcing the disabled to rely on paratransit, which is inconvenient for them and expensive for taxpayers.
• Economics: Relying on cars is making people who can barely afford to drive poorer.  And the people who can’t afford cars at all face serious challenges getting to medical appointments, job interviews, groceries, etc.  In these hard economic times we should not allow transportation costs to be a barrier for job seekers. We could all save a LOT of money and have healthier lifestyles if we were able to get by efficiently without a car or even replace shorter trips with more affordable modes. Addressing these issues at the same time we do major repair projects saves tax payers money and increases our transportation choices.

For more information on Complete Streets Spokane go to:www.futurewise.org/spokane/completestreets. We have a series of topical fact sheets you can print and share.

It is because of your hard work and support that we have come this far. Now let’s make sure we finish the job!

Thanks for all that you do,

Kitty

P.S.

Join our facebook group athttp://www.facebook.com/groups/143275032410557/

The post Streets for all or just cars? appeared first on Out There Venture.

There’s been lots of buzz about “complete streets” in Spokane recently. Now it’s time to get involved! Please read this invitation to the upcoming Complete Streets Spokane planning meeting from the executive director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington.

“If you have been reading the Spokesman Review and Out There Monthly, you know that there has been an alarming string of pedestrian deaths around Spokane and the Inland Northwest. Join representatives from Futurewise, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, and other public interest groups in changing this trend!

January 13 – 5:30 PM
Central YMCA
930 N Monroe

When streets are designed for motor vehicles, they deny people the opportunity to choose more active ways to get around, like biking and walking. Even when sidewalks exist, large intersections and speeding traffic can discourage these active modes by making biking and walking unpleasant or unsafe.

Read Jon Snyder’s December editorial, Time for Complete Streets, in OutThere Monthly. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington has long been a proponent of Complete Streets policies at the state and local levels, and it continues to be part of our 2010 legislative agenda.

For more information contact Kitty Klitzke or at 509-838-1965 at Futurewise for more information.”

Dave Janis
Acting Executive Director
www.bicyclealliance.org
206-224-9252 x302

The post Complete Streets Planning Meeting appeared first on Out There Venture.

Find out what local experts think about the state of, and future of, Eastern Washington’s environmental laws.

In a forum presented by the Spokane County Democrats, the Center for Justice and Gonzaga Law School, presenters will share their ideas on how to improve current policies. The event is from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on August 24th at the Barbieri Courtroom on the Gonzaga Campus. (Click here for a campus map.) Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

The panel is moderated by dean of Gonzaga Law School, Earl Martin and includes the following presenters:

Kitty Klitzche, Eastern Washington Coordinator of Futurewise, discussing the import of Washington’s Growth Management and presenting Growth Management 101.

Mike Chappell, Director of the GU Environmental Law Clinic, speaking on Clean Water Act 101 and the Spokane River.

Joel Merkel, Sen. Maria Cantwell‘s DC Legislative Aid on Environmental Issues, to discuss a Federal legislative update, funding as part of stimulus and how the Sentator’s work on the Energy Committee is resulting in local successes.

Bruce Howard, Director of Environmental Affairs for Avista, speaking on Local Business and Environmental Partnerships

Mike Petersen, Lands Council, presenting a national NEPA success story discussing National Forest collaboration and NEPA.

Sam Mace, Inland NW Director for Save Our Wild Salmon, speaking on Finding Common Ground on Salmon Recovery.

Breean Beggs, Chief Catalyst for the Center for Justice, speaking on local environmental issues and initiatives.

Send your RSVP to vote@spokanedemocrats.org.

The post Environmental Law Forum appeared first on Out There Venture.