Living Streets Alliance

Living Streets Alliance in a Tucson-based non-profit organization that is working to turn our streets into vibrant places for walking, biking, socializing, and play. We believe that our streets have the power to connect neighbors, strengthen communities, improve our health by allowing us to get exercise easily, and protect the environment by reducing our dependency on the automobile.

A big part of what we do is encouraging people of all ages and abilities to give walking, biking, and transit a try. We do this through fun and educational events and programs that bring people together, such as:

• Cyclovia Tucson.  Twice a year, we close down 5 miles of city streets to cars for a day and open them up to people to explore their community and enjoy hundreds of activities.  Whether on foot, bike, roller skates, skipping or dance-walking, Cyclovia Tucson invites everyone to come out and play.
• Neighborhood Walkability Assessments.  We work with neighborhoods to identify their priorities for making the area more walkable and provide them with the tools and resources to take the next step in making it happen.
• Kidical Mass.  Six times a year, we host these free, leisurely bicycle rides through the city using neighborhood streets and other low-stress bicycle routes. These rides encourage kids and "kids at heart" to give bicycling a try in a safe and fun group setting.
• Walk & Talks.  Sometimes what the public wants is very different from what actually gets built.  Through this program we invite elected officials, local business owners, neighborhoods, and other stakeholders to come walk together and discuss the potential for building community through creating a more walkable environment.
• Safe Routes to School. When kids can walk and bike safely to school they get daily exercise, build confidence, and arrive at school more alert and ready to learn.  Through this program we work with local schools, parents, teachers, students and neighborhoods to encourage more students to bike and walk to school and to teach them how to do it safely.

 

This list goes on an on.

Streets are for everyone! We believe that everyone benefits from a street network that is safe and comfortable. It can help our grandparents "age in place" so that they can still get around independently even after they are no longer able to drive. It can help our children be safer walking to school. It can help strengthen the community by helping neighbors connect and build trusting relationships. It can help struggling families still get to work and access their other daily destinations without having to spend a major portion of their earnings simply on getting there.

We believe that, together, we can transform our streets to enhance the quality of life in our community!