Move Lebo 12/19/24 Move Lebo 12/19/24

happy holidays!

FROM OUR STREET TO YOURS, WE WISH YOU A JOYFUL, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL HOLIDAY SESAON!

2024 that’s a wrap. 2025 here we come!

2024 YEAR IN REVIEW

Whew…what a year!! We’re feeling grateful as we have a TON to celebrate after just one year in existence. Check out some 2024 highlights below:

CELEBRATING SUCCESS!

Our advocacy work throughout this year paid off in a BIG way! We “packed the room” to let the Commission and Mobility Board know that residents want safer streets, designed for people. Our efforts helped to bring an additional $55k to the 2025 Municipal Budget, $30k for "Mobility Improvements" and $25k for "Pedestrian Routes/Sidewalk Repairs". PLUS $112,500 for traffic calming on Scrubgrass. It also ensured that the $300k slated for new sidewalks in the capital improvement plan was carried over to the 2025 budget. If you’re doing the math, that’s $467,500 for safer streets!!!

We are shifting the narrative, slowly but surely. Keep up the great work and keep showing up! Things are just getting started…!

RUNLEBO CHALLENGE UPDATE

The crisp, winter air is no match for these dedicated runners!

A HUGE congratulations to our latest RUNLebo Challenge finishers:

* Tara Fagan & Taylor Grimm *

Interested in joining the 86 Mile Run Club? More info here.

86 Mile Run Club Prize Package, hand delivered to your porch upon finish!

HOLIDAY LIGHT BIKE RIDE

Riders were nestled all snug in their gear, while holiday hits were heard far and near. Every bike was adorned in its holiday dress, as the decision was made as to which was decorated best. The smell of candy canes and hot chocolate filled the air as everyone enjoyed the splendid sights done with utmost care. And at once a new holiday tradition was born, one that will surely continue, so if you missed it don’t be forlorn.

Spreading holiday cheer, we lit up the streets of Mt. Lebanon as a group of 14 adults and 6 kids!! A special congratulations to Maya and her UNICYCLE! She took home the award, a well deserved prize! Have you ever seen a unicycle traverse a brick street?! Our community of supporters is growing and getting more fun by the minute!

SHOUT OUTS!

A very special thank you to everyone who supported Move Lebo during Pittsburgh Magazine’s Give Big Pittsburgh event. Our first time participating was a great success - we couldn’t do our work without your support!

In addition, we want to thank the Mt. Lebanon Lions Club for their very generous contribution. Move Lebo was selected during a competitive funding process to be one of their 2024 funding recipients. Together, we look forward to working with the Mt. Lebanon Lions Club to continue to bring meaningful change and improvements to our community.

*GAVEL* CALL TO ORDER

Exciting news! The Move Lebo Board of Directors is now operational. The board conducted their first official meeting in November and has big plans for the coming year! Learn more about this incredibly talented and dedicated team here. Quarterly general meetings, will resume in early 2025. Stay tuned!

Help us keep the momentum going! Please consider making an end of year donation. Thank you!

donate

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:

RUNLEBO MEET UP:

Fridays @ 7AM

Sign up for meet up details!

MONTHLY HAPPY HOUR:

Thursday, December 19th

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

Move Lebo 10/30/24 Move Lebo 10/30/24

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!

become a member & support the movement!

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.

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.

donate Today!

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!

RUNLEBO MEET UP:

Fridays @ 7AM

Sign up for meet up details!

MONTHLY HAPPY HOUR:

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

Move Lebo 10/28/24 Move Lebo 10/28/24

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.

Move Lebo 9/29/24 Move Lebo 9/29/24

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.

become a member!

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!