october 2024 newsletter
HALLOWEEN IS SCARY - CROSSING THE STREET SHOULDN’T BE!
Happy Halloween from Move Lebo! We had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch Parade over the weekend! A special shout-out to our members, who came out and walked with us in support of Safer Streets, Designed for People! We had a blast handing out candy & enjoying the open streets vibe - here are some fun images from the event!
SIDEWALK CLEANUP
Join us Saturday, November 2nd @ 9:30am. Meet at the Mt. Lebanon Library outside the lower entrance on Castle Shannon Blvd. Help us showcase our new safety sign and clean up another section of our sidewalks! We'll have gloves and bags but bring any loppers/shovels, if you'd like. Hope to see you there!
WALK THE VOTE!
What’s your plan for getting to your polling station? Election Day is quickly approaching. Move Lebo is encouraging everyone to “Walk the Vote”! Get more familiar with the streets in your neighborhood by walking to cast your vote. Polling station location info here. Polls open at 7am and close at 8pm.
CALL TO ACTION!
The Mt. Lebanon School District is embarking on a strategic planning process that will shape the District’s path over the next seven years. Pedestrian safety isn’t highlighted once on the survey! If you are a parent or guardian of a MTLSD student or simply a resident concerned about the walking conditions for children in our community, please be sure to complete the Mt. Lebanon Strategic Plan Survey . The final two questions in the survey provide a space for open-ended comments. Be sure to indicate that you want to see pedestrian safety prioritized. The deadline to submit is November 8th. We NEED the support of the District to make change happen.
Sample Comment:
As a walking district, we are failing our children as they are forced to navigate extremely unsafe intersections and crosswalks. At present, many of the intersections along Cochran, Washington, and Bower Hill are deadly for kids. Please demand that the municipality get to work on improving the walking conditions for our children by implementing pedestrian only phases at existing traffic lights during school zone hours and daylighting crosswalks. We must do better to protect our most valuable asset, our children. They don’t have a choice on how to get to school.
ACCESS SURVEY: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsS2nEf4B7um_xoFqgURs06Qb2_4Bc454BV90zcbuD8QDoGg/viewform.
RUNLEBO CHALLENGE UPDATE
A HUGE congratulations to Kevin Bellanca - the first to complete the RUNLebo Challenge with a whopping 215 miles logged! Even more impressive is the list of recommendations he made based upon his hours of observations, running the streets of our community.
Here’s what Kevin had to say about the RUNLebo Challenge:
“The RunLebo challenge was a great way for me to explore every corner of Lebo on foot. Not only was it a great way to exercise and enjoy the outdoors, but I also learned many things about Lebo and our pedestrian infrastructure along the way. Perhaps the best part - I now know my way around the city, including its shops, restaurants, parks, and neighborhoods better than I ever thought possible!”
You Rock, Kevin!
There’s still time to join the RUNLebo Challenge! Learn more here.
NEW! WALK LEBO CLUB
Introducing the new kid in town, the Walk Lebo Club! Interested in exploring the neighborhoods of Mt. Lebanon & meeting new friends? This is the group for you! Walks are led by a Move Lebo volunteer - no cost to join. Moderate pace, dogs and children in strollers welcome. Routes and starting points will change every few weeks. Learn more here. We are working to build our Walk Lebo volunteer list. If you are interested in leading a walk, please let us know! Current need: evening and/or weekend volunteers.
[image from Mt. Lebanon Magazine]
PAVING THE WAY
Exciting news - Move Lebo is part of the featured story in the November issue of Mt. Lebanon Magazine! Check out the Paving the Way article, highlighting Move Lebo’s work within the community. We’re just getting started! Join us as we pave the way for people-centered design.
SAVE THE DATE - 12/12/24 - HOLIDAY LIGHT BIKE RIDE
Come with us as we delight in holiday cheer! Light up your bike and join us for an evening ride as we explore Mt. Lebanon and take in the holiday lights. Candy canes & holiday hits will be provided! This ride is open to all ages and types of bikes. Please note that while we will select a safe route with minimal traffic and hills (exact location TBD), the roads will be open to cars. Proper bike lights, helmets & a familiarity of road riding rules are important. A prize for the most festive bike will be awarded!
EMPLOYER MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS PROGRAM
A HUGE thank you to our recent members that made very generous contributions AND got their employers to match it!! We are so grateful for your support! Interested in making your donation go even further? Ask your employer if they have a MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS APPLICATION FORM then send it to us at movelebo@gmail.com.
GET INVOLVED
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET INVOLVED TODAY?
BECOME A MEMBER! Your support enables Move Lebo to develop educational programs, host community events & purchase critical safety supplies for sidewalk cleanups and group activities.
Tell your family and friends about Move Lebo - share this newsletter.
Join in the convo on Slack.
Report! a safety issue or concern here!
Use the power of your words - speak at an upcoming Commissioners Meeting and/or Mobility Board meeting.
Sign up for RunLebo!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
MOVE LEBO SIDEWALK CLEANUP:
Saturday, November 2nd 9:30am
Meet at the Mt. Lebanon Library outside the entrance on Castle Shannon Blvd.
CALL TO ACTION!
Complete the Mt. Lebanon Strategic Plan Survey - indicate that you want to see pedestrian safety prioritized!
Deadline November 8th.
NEW! WALK LEBO CLUB:
Tuesdays & Thursdays in November
Details can be found here!
Fridays @ 7AM
Sign up for meet up details!
Thursday, November 21st
5pm - 7pm @ East End Brewing
MONTHLY MOVE LEBO GENERAL MEETING:
General meetings are now being held quarterly. Next meeting will be in 2025!
Together and Forward
@movelebo | movelebo@gmail.com | www.movelebo.com
Paving the way
Exciting news - Move Lebo is part of the featured story in the November issue of Mt. Lebanon Magazine!
Check out the Paving the Way article, highlighting Move Lebo’s work within the community.
September 2024 newsletter
THIS JUST IN … MOVE LEBO IS NOW A REGISTERED 501(c)(3)!
Become a sustaining member today! Your membership & financial support enables Move Lebo to offer unique, engaging community events, purchase much needed safety equipment for sidewalk cleanups, develop educational programming & expand our advocacy work.
September was action packed, a perfect send off to summer! Our community is growing - we now have over 275 newsletter subscribers! We hear you! There’s a desire to experience our community in a way that builds connection and a sense of place. Together we will create a more connected community that prioritizes pedestrian safety and people-centered design.
PECHAKUCHA MEETS OKTOBERFEST
Our first PechaKucha event was a total blast! 20 slides/20 seconds, presenters shared their vision for a more pedestrian friendly and connected community. The evening took us on a tour from the train tracks of America to the streets of Berlin. An Oktoberfest twist added an extra bit of fun, viewers enjoyed German beer and pretzels. PROST! to people-centered design! Missed out? We want to PechaKucha with you! We’ll host another member event in the spring - stay tuned!
FIRST E-BIKE GROUP RIDE WAS A SUCCESS!
We had so much fun, we’re doing it again! It was great meeting new friends, who are passionate about making biking part of their daily lives. We shared stories and each learned a new thing or two about a route we hadn’t done before. Couldn’t make it to the last ride? Join us on Saturday, October 12 @ 9:30am at Needle and Bean for another group ride through Mt. Lebanon! Come with us - we’ll show you not only is it possible to bike in Lebo, it’s a ton of FUN! RSVP here!
Picture yourself here! Inaugural e-bike ride crew, cruising the streets of Mt. Lebanon!
POINTS OF INTEREST:
3 BUSINESS DISTRICTS, 4 SCHOOLS, COFFEE SHOPS/RESTAURANTS, LIBRARY, REC CENTER & POOL
PACK THE ROOM!
We did it! A dozen of us packed the room at the September 24 Commission Meeting in support of the Active Transportation Plan. 12 people, 12 stories, all with one common theme - safer streets for people powered mobility. Have you heard about the Active Transportation Plan and Complete Streets Policy? If not, give them a look. We are organizing another “pack the room” event on 10/1 @ 6pm this time at the Mobility Board meeting. Concerned parents will discuss the dangers their children face on their way to and from school in our walking district. Please join and share your story. We must build our collective voice and demand safer streets. Can’t make it on 10/1? The next meeting is on 11/5. Tell your friends!
SLICING UP PIZZA, MOVE LEBO STYLE @ THE ARTIST MARKET
Visitors of all ages enjoyed creating their own reflective pizza slices. A fun, interactive way to promote pedestrian safety & increase visibility while people Move (around) Lebo. A collaborative chalk mural encouraged people to envision alternative uses for space. Instead of an empty sidewalk, it became a place people gathered to chat, create art, enjoy a snack & connect. A micro demonstration to illustrate how inexpensive fixes like chalk/paint can go a long way in redesigning the use of spaces. ||paint = traffic calming = connection|| Shout out to Mt. Lebanon Partnership for including us in this great event!
SIDEWALK CLEAN UP ALONG WASHINGTON ROAD
Lebo Complained - Move Lebo answered! The Move Lebo sidewalk cleanup crew tackled the southern portion of Washington Road (near MedExpress) earlier this month. Now people and pets can safely pass through the space. Thanks to the concerned resident who put a spotlight on this area of need. Move Lebo is an action oriented advocacy group making our community a better place to live, one step at a time. Do you know of a sidewalk in need of some TLC? Submit to our Report! page and we’ll add it to our list!
Our next sidewalk cleanup is happening on Saturday, November 2nd. Meet at the Mt. Lebanon Library at 9:30am outside the entrance on Castle Shannon Blvd.
WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING - PITTSBURGH!
Move Lebo is an official co-sponsor of Week Without Driving - Pittsburgh! Whether we live in suburban towns or city neighborhoods, everyone in Allegheny County deserves safe, reliable, dignified access to the places we need to go. Across the county, 30% of the population does not drive a car. The Week Without Driving is a nationwide movement to link the needs of disabled individuals and people of all ages with environmental movements and accessible community planning. Together, we will illustrate challenges and opportunities for non-drivers and call for change that improves mobility for all.
GET INVOLVED
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET INVOLVED TODAY?
- BECOME A MEMBER! Your support enables Move Lebo to develop educational programs, host community events & purchase critical safety supplies for sidewalk cleanups.
- Tell your family and friends about Move Lebo - share this newsletter.
- Join in the convo on Slack.
- Report! a safety issue or concern here!
- Use the power of your words - speak at an upcoming Commissioners Meeting and/or Mobility Board meeting.
- Sign up for RunLebo!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Fridays @ 7AM
Sign up for meet up details!
WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING - PITTSBURGH:
September 30th - October 6th
Join & pledge to take a week without driving.
MONTHLY MOVE LEBO GENERAL MEETING:
Sunday, October 6th
10am @ Needle and Bean [Open to anyone interested in learning more!]
E-BIKE GROUP RIDE MEET UP:
Saturday, October 12th
9:30am @ Needle and Bean RSVP here
Thursday, October 17th
5pm - 7pm @ East End Brewing
MOVE LEBO SIDEWALK CLEANUP:
Saturday, November 2nd 9:30am
Meet at the Mt. Lebanon Library outside the entrance on Castle Shannon Blvd.
Together and Forward
@movelebo | movelebo@gmail.com | www.movelebo.com
August 2024 newsletter
[Move Lebo @ First Fridays!]
SAFER STREETS FOR PEOPLE POWERED MOBILITY
We’d like to start by saying a warm hello to all of our new subscribers! It’s wonderful to have you here!
REPORT! CLOSE CALLS
We Want Your "Close Call" Stories!
Most of us and our loved ones have had a "close call" on a Mt. Lebanon street, intersection or sidewalk that raised our blood pressure and made us ask, "why can't we do this better?!" No one wants a close call or a near miss to become an actual statistic. We want YOU to share your "close call" stories on the Move Lebo Report! page. After collecting and organizing these stories, Move Lebo plans to use this information to direct our advocacy work and brainstorm strategies to address these issues. We want to put neighbors in contact with neighbors so together you can rally for change. We also want to encourage and support story submitters to attend upcoming Mt. Lebanon Commission and Mobility Board meetings to share experiences and proposed solutions. We need our elected officials to know that there are way too many "close calls" in our neighborhood and action is needed NOW!
New! E-BIKE GROUP RIDE
Saturday, September 21st / 9:30am / starting at Needle and Bean
Calling all e-bikes! Have an e-bike and want to learn the best/safest routes to get around your neighborhood? Or maybe you have questions about how to make e-biking part of your daily routine. This meetup was inspired by the e-bike panel discussion we hosted earlier in the summer. The goal is to build community and help riders gain the confidence and knowledge needed for road riding. The ride will be led by two avid e-bike riders and Move Lebo members, Beth & Morgan. The route will connect riders to three Mt. Lebanon business districts, using mostly quiet, residential roads. The ride is designed for beginners and will move at a leisurely pace, originating and ending at Needle and Bean. No experience required. We’ll be there to help with the basics and to unload bikes, etc. or get a couple laps in prior to the start. The ride will last approximately 30 minutes. We’ll top off the ride with some of the best coffee in town while we chat about future rides. This ride is open to riders without e-bikes but please note we will be navigating a number of hills.
POINTS OF INTEREST:
3 Business Districts
4 Schools
Coffee Shops/Restaurants
Library
Rec Center/Pool
RUNLebo
On your mark, get set, go! RUNLebo is quickly gaining speed as runners and walkers take on the challenge of conquering all 86 miles of road in Mt. Lebanon. In fact, the group has caught the attention of local news stations. Recently, the creator of RUNLebo, Marty Bacik, was interviewed by KDKA and featured on the evening news. Check out the story here! Add your name to the RUNLebo leaderboard today! There’s no time limit for completion and walkers are welcome to take on the challenge. Join the group Friday mornings or run on your own time. All fitness levels welcome. Questions? Send us an email!
Lookin’ good, RUNLebo! & how about that traffic circle?!
SIDEWALK CLEANUP
Saturday, September 14 / 9:30am -11:00am / Meet @ MedExpress Urgent Care on Washington Road near Dunkin’
Join Move Lebo as we move together & forward to create a stronger, more connected community. We’ll be picking up trash along Washington Road, meeting @ the Medexpress Urgent Care on Washington Road near Dunkin’ and work our way up from there. We’ll end the cleanup with a cool down over drinks at a spot Uptown where we can compare stories about the most outlandish things we discovered. The municipality will provide supplies based on the number of people in attendance, so please give us a heads up if you are able to attend.
Do you know of a sidewalk in need of some TLC? Let us know so we can add it to our clean-up list!
DESIGN ELEMENTS: Road Diets
Ever wondered why some streets feel like racetracks? The secret may be in the lane width! A lot of Mt. Lebanon's roads are wider than they need to be, encouraging high speeds. But there's a solution: road diets. This traffic calming strategy slims down streets, making them safer and more efficient. Want to learn how it works and how it could transform your neighborhood? Click here to find out! Get the highlights in this 2-minute video from the FHWA.
PECHAKUCHA NIGHT - Rescheduled!
Oktoberfest meet PechaKucha! We’ve put together a Move Lebo PechaKucha* night! Vibes will be backyard hang with projector and some snacks and Oktoberfest bevvies. This will be an informal and fun way to get to know your fellow Move Lebo members and their perspective or story when it comes to Safe Streets for People Powered Mobility! It's also a great way to get some thoughts down on paper and hopefully aid in speaking to those outside our organization about what we stand for. (A PK is about the same length as public comment at a commission meeting.) That said, the primary goal is to hang out and be wowed by some fun & interesting stories!
When: Saturday, September 21st 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: RSVP for address BYOS(nacks) & lawn chair
What: 6-8 speakers with an intermission. Looking for volunteers to do a 5-min PK presentation. Interested in presenting? Send us an email.
*The PechaKucha 20x20 presentation format is a slide show of 20 images, each auto-advancing after 20 seconds. It’s non-stop and you've got 400 seconds to tell your story, with visuals guiding the way. PechaKucha was created in Japan in 2003 by renowned architects, Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham. The word “PechaKucha” is Japanese for “chit chat.”
PACK THE ROOM
The bids for the joint Mt. Lebanon-Dormont Active Transportation Plan should be in and discussions are planned to choose the consulting firm that will be developing it. Join MoveLebo at the September 24th Commission Meeting (Tuesday) to show that community support is still strong and a well-connected network for walking and biking is essential for a safe, comfortable experience. Please RSVP here so we can send you some talking points and reminders. Bring a friend!
If you are unable to make it but want to lend your support, you can find and email your commissioner using this link.
CALL TO ACTION
Take the opportunity to weigh in on Dormont's Comprehensive Plan. There's an opportunity to say you are from a neighboring community and help advocate for safer streets for people powered mobility. Provide your feedback here.
GET INVOLVED
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET INVOLVED TODAY?
- Tell your family and friends about Move Lebo - share this newsletter.
- Join in the convo on Slack.
- Report! a safety issue or concern here!
- Use the power of your words - speak at an upcoming Commissioners Meeting and/or Mobility Board meeting.
- Sign up for RunLebo!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
RUNLEBO MEET UP:
Fridays @ 7AM
Sign up for meet up details!
MONTHLY MOVE LEBO GENERAL MEETING:
Sunday, September 8th
10am @ Needle and Bean [Open to anyone interested in learning more!]
SIDEWALK CLEANUP:
Saturday, September 14th
9:30am @ MedExpress Urgent Care on Washington Road near Dunkin’
MONTHLY HAPPY HOUR:
Thursday, September 19th
5pm - 7pm @ East End Brewing
E-BIKE GROUP RIDE MEET UP:
Saturday, September 21st
9:30am @ Needle and Bean RSVP here
PECHAKUCHA NIGHT:
Saturday, September 21st
7pm - 9pm RSVP for location address
Together and Forward
@movelebo | movelebo@gmail.com | www.movelebo.com