Taking Action for Green Commuting

Jackie Douglas speaking at a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority press conference

International Honors Program alum Jackie Douglas is the director of Livable Streets, a Boston based nonprofit advocacy organization that is rethinking transportation. Douglas was recently awarded Advocate of the Year by the Alliance for Biking and Walking.

Douglas’ work includes grassroots organizing around transportation reform as well as giving public speeches throughout the Boston area about redefining modes of urban transport. She says the most common question people ask her is, “What can I do to help?”

Below are just three ways Douglas says you can get involved – from riding your bicycle more to becoming a transportation advocate in your own community.

1. Live it. Take public transit, carpool, or get on your bicycle just one more day a week. If you don’t have a bicycle, now is a great time to invest in one. If you do choose to drive, look out for cyclists and pedestrians while you are driving, or when opening your car door.  
2. Talk about it.  Discuss public transportation informally with your friends, neighbors, family and colleagues. You may find there are more cyclists in your community than you expected, new ways for using public transportation, or carpool options you did not know existed. 
3. Become an advocate. There are hundreds of local advocacy groups all across the country where you can become a local transportation advocate. If your community does not have a transportation advocacy group, public meetings are a great way to speak up about these issues. While there may not always be meetings devoted to biking, walking or public transit, there will likely be discussions about land use development or street reconstruction projects. 

Read a full profile of Jackie Douglas on our website, visit the Livable Streets website or visit the links below for more information about how to get involved.

Fast facts about commuting: http://livablestreets.info/facts-and-stats
List of national organizations: http://livablestreets.info/alliances
Alliance for Biking and Walking: http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org