Good Works Columbus: October 21, 2024

Let's Talk Transit, North Linden Block Blitz, Tree Planting

Intro

Hi everyone, happy Monday! If it’s your first time here, welcome to Good Works Columbus, a newsletter designed to give you small actions to take to make Columbus a better place.

The federal government is giving out another round of free COVID tests, you can sign up to get them here:

If you have an upcoming event or a link you’d like to share for the newsletter, feel free to send suggestions. And if you know someone who might enjoy Good Works Columbus, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe here.

Things you can do in person

• Vote!
  Early voting has started for the 2024 General Election. I included a voter guide last week from Senator Meow’s newsletter, if you missed it check out here along with their explanations and breakdowns.
  

• Bike Drive
  Please help Bikes for All People collect 100 kids bikes for Community Development for All People’s annual Christmas shop!
  

  

  
  

• Let’s Talk Transit Happy Hour - 2nd floor at Jackie O’s
  Tuesday, October 22th 5:30pm-7:00pm
  
  Join Transit Columbus for the final “Let’s Talk Transit” event and learn about Issue 47 and the future of transportation in central Ohio.

  • Want to get more involved? Sign up to canvass and get out the vote for “Yes on 47”. Next canvass opportunity is Saturday, October 26th at 10am

    
    

• North Linden Block Blitz 🌳

  

  Get ready to roll up your sleeves and make a difference in our neighborhood! Join us for the North Linden Block Blitz on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We'll be gathering at W Manchester Ave between Ontario & Medina to enhance our local environment through tree and shrub planting, mulching, weeding, and trash pick-up.

  This is a fantastic opportunity to beautify our community while meeting new friends and neighbors. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just want to lend a helping hand, everyone is welcome—people of all ages can join in the fun!

• Plant Trees with FLOW

  

  
  

Things you can do online

• Sponsor a set of bike lights 🚲
  Bike Lane Uprising is raising money to fund 200 more sets of bike lights for people in Columbus. Fund a set for just $14 and help them reach their goal.
  

• NHTSA Pedestrian Safety Feedback 🚘
  Right now you can comment on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposal for regulating cars and trucks for pedestrian safety. Submit a comment and show your support for making it safer to be a pedestrian.
  

• ODOT Transportation Survey 🚍
  We are requesting your participation in ODOT’s Transportation Preference Survey. We need feedback from people all around Ohio on emerging transportation topics like electric vehicles, connected and autonomous vehicles, walking, biking, transit, working from home and many others.
  

• ODOT Road Widening Feedback 🚘
  Ohio Department of Transportation is seeking feedback for a road widening project on U.S. 33 in central Ohio. The project would add a lane in each direction and a projected cost of $128.4 million (Ohio appropriated $94.4 million for the state’s entire public transportation budget in 2024). Adding lanes only leads to induced demand and no actual decrease in traffic. Go tell ODOT we don’t need more lanes!
  

  

• (~10-15 minutes) Columbus Park Plan 🌳
  Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is initiating the process of developing its next 10-year Vision Plan. This update will provide a vision and roadmap for the future of recreation programming and services, parks, facilities, trails, waterways and open space planning that scales the city’s recreation and parks system equitably to match Columbus’ place as the 14th largest city in the U.S. This plan will also serve as a guidebook for the department’s programming, development and policies to drive quality-of-life improvements for all Columbus residents.
  
  Take the survey to shape the future of play, parks and open space!
  
  

In Case You Missed It

• LinkUS Engagement Survey (2 minutes)

  We invite you to share your thoughts on LinkUS and public transportation's impact on your life and community. Your answers will be shared as part of a social media initiative to spread awareness about LinkUS and what it means for the Central Ohio region. Thank you for your participation!

• Mark up the Vision Zero Columbus map. Have a close call walking, biking, or getting around town? Do you know a dangerous intersection that can be improved? Help identify these spots on the Vision Zero map.

Have a great day everyone!