 A request from the Town of Wellesley's new Transportation & Mobility Manager.
You know how to get around Wellesley better than most. Share your expertise with the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization by answering a few questions in their Vision Zero Plan - A Roadmap to Safer Streets survey. The Boston region is working to create safer streets to allow us to enjoy more walking and biking. With your input, not only will Wellesley have a presence in this plan, but it will also position the Town for grant opportunities. Feel free to pinpoint on a map areas of concern / near misses and offer solutions by going to https://www.bostonmpovisionzero.org/. Simply click in the middle of the page click on "Safety Concerns Map - Open Map in New Window." Then click on the icons to see what others are saying. Repeats of what others say is ok, as it gives weight to the issue. Do the same for another issue/location if you wish. Fill in the information in the form that pops up for that location. Drag the map and use the plus and minus signs to scroll in to your location. Click to drop the pin. Click on the "Submit a Safety Concern" bar on the lower right. Fill out the survey: https://www.bostonmpovisionzero.org/ In the middle left, click on "Take the Survey." Thank you for helping us make our streets safer!  “What‘s happening is a crime – a crime against all of our citizens, young and old, and a crime against our planet,” said Wellesley's Chief of Police Jack Pilecki in regards to the environmental crisis in his PSA a few years ago.
Wellesley's very own "Green Police Chief" Jack Pilecki will retire on June 30. His commitment to sustainability went well beyond the station's water hydration station and reusable water bottles. Chief Pilecki added hybrid and electric cruisers to the fleet; installed an electric charging station; took on idling at the schools; installed a bike repair station at the police station; and encouraged his officers to participate in the Rules of the Ride youth biking event. We wish the Chief all the best in retirement and congratulate the new Chief of Police, Scott Whittemore. We look forward to more emissions reduction opportunities with Chief Whittemore, a Wellesley native and 28-year veteran of WPD.  Thanks WHS student Kavin Shah for sharing this photo and for riding his bike to school (daily) Strap on your helmet and lace up your shoes! Take part in Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, May 3. This annual event is a day to celebrate the benefits of active commuting, and build community and school spirit. Join with other schools in the Commonwealth and take part on that day, or any other day in May. Or host a "Walk at School" event during the school day.
If you would like more information on safe routes for walking and biking to school in Wellesley, email Wellesley School Committee member Catherine Mirick ([email protected]) or Select Board member Colette Aufranc ([email protected]). Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day is part of Massachusetts Safe Routes to School flagship activities. Also, stay tuned for more information on the second annual Wellesley Rules of The Ride Bike Event on June 10th 10-11.30am at WHS parking lot (rain date June 11). This fun, smart cycling event for rising 6th graders and all middle school students will teach the students the rules of the road on a guided ride along the Book Path & streets. email [email protected] for more information and keep an eye out for details.  Get ready to participate in walk, bike and roll to school day on Wednesday, Oct. 12. It’s a healthy, safe, and fun way to start the school year. If enough people participate, the event also potentially reduces traffic and emissions in town for the day.
Wellesley’s elementary schools — Bates, Fiske, Hardy, Schofield, Sprague, and Upham — are regular participants in the yearly effort, as are the middle and high schools.  The weather is good, so this is the prime time to try out new mobility options in town. More than 30% of our emissions come from transportation in and around. Like what you say? How about FREE rides around Wellesley and useful neighboring spots on the Catch Connect van service for folks 12 and over. Try taking the train to Natick or Boston; the T to the Red Sox game; walk, scoot, or bike to work, to friend's houses and to do errands this month.
While you are trying new transportation options, try combining your Amazon deliveries (maybe your neighbors too) to 1 x a week to reduce truck deliveries in town. These are all part of Town of Wellesley's Sustainable Mobility Plan which also includes more sidewalk connectivity, new bike racks and bike repair stations, more road crossing lights, bike lanes, and electric vehicle charging stations.  Who: Middle Schoolers (grade 5 and up) that live or go to school in town
What: Fun, smart cycling event Where: Hunnewell School parking lot When: Saturday, June 4th from 10-11.30am (rain date June 11) How: Register here To support middle school students to ride more independently on our busy streets, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and the Wellesley Police Dept (WPD) are spearheading this event with Wellesley’s Natural Resources Commission, Sustainable Wellesley and Wellesley Green Schools. The goal is to create a mindset that bikes should be treated as a vehicle, and to build overall skills and confidence for riding safely and legally to school and throughout town. Meet at the Hunnewell School parking lot to learn some “rules of the road” before enjoying a guided bike train along Wellesley’s beautiful Brook Path and some on-street riding. Safe Routes To Schools will offer some giveaways and Winnie the WPD community resource service dog will be there to greet the kids as they embark upon the ride! The first 25 registrants will get a free Truly Yogurt coupon and all participants can win a raffle item from Pappa Wheelies! Register here Rain date is June 11th.  Looking for a fun and family-friendly outdoor activity? Take a leisurely bike ride or walk along a 2.8-mile garden tour around Wellesley that highlights pollinator gardens in Town. The self-guided tour will take you past gardens at the Wellesley Post Office, Town Hall, the Police Station, the WHS garden and some private gardens, as well - all of which are pesticide free. Click here to learn more.
Pollinate Wellesley is a joint initiative of Sustainable Wellesley, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, and the NRC. When we protect our pollinators we protect ourselves!  Create Healthy Habits While Helping Wellesley Reduce Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The new school year is a chance to begin new routines. Recent climate studies show that 30% of Wellesley's traffic is school-related transportation. Instead of driving, start some new school traditions this fall. - Get together with friends and walk to school - Form neighborhood walking groups with other parents, caretakers, families – take turns leading the group. - Ride bikes or scooters with neighbors. -Check in with the Wellesley Public Schools to see if there is space on the bus: it is free if you live more than 2 miles from school. More information on Wellesley's upcoming “Safe Routes to School” walking and biking initiative is coming out soon. Learn more about it from the Town's Mobility Committee members (see below). Better yet, consider participating in it by serving as a parent representative for your school. Wellesley Select Board member Colette Aufranc at [email protected] Wellesley School Committee Chair Catherine Mirick at [email protected]  Give input on Wellesley's Sustainable Mobility Plan (SMP).
As part of the SMP, the Town has launched a series of short surveys to gather more information on a range of mobility topics. Each survey takes five minutes or less to complete. Please respond to as many or few that apply to your travel and spread the word to friends and family. The most recent survey asks about school travel and is designed for either students or parents. Your input is important as we seek ways to make low impact travel modes (walking, biking, buses) safer and more attractive. In addition to the school survey, we encourage you to take any previous surveys that apply to how you travel, get deliveries, and plan for future travel. The first five of 10 surveys are available at this link under the “Wellesley Wheelhouse” Tab. So far the topics focus on: Survey 1- Work from Home trends Survey 2 - Biking and E-bicycles Survey 3 - Use of Ridehailing Services (e.g. Uber and Lyft) Survey 4 - Use of E-commerce Survey 5 - School Travel In the future watch for surveys on autonomous vehicles, bikability, use of food delivery services, microtransit, and electric vehicles. If you have questions, please email [email protected]. Thank you for your help with this community project! |
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
Sign up for updates! |
Contact us! |
Support us! |
Follow us!Copyright © 2025 By Sustainable Wellesley
|