What is Let's Move LI?
A collaboration among municipalities, schools, businesses and other organizations to promote active transportation across Long Island.
Our Goals
- Promote walking and biking, alone or connected to public transit
- Encourage bike and pedestrian safety education for students
- Support safe walkability and biking infrastructure
Benefits of Active Transportation
Walking and biking can provide many health, environmental, social/safety and economic benefits.
Get Involved
1. Promote the Benefits of Active Transportation
Start promoting the benefits of Active Transportation to your residents, students or employees on your website, email, newsletters and social media. Our Toolkit makes it easy with sample copy, flyers and logos. .
2. Host an Educational Event
Host an educational event either virtually or in person to promote the many benefits of Active Transportation, and build awareness about nearby walkable downtowns and recreational bike trails. Let's Move LI volunteers can help you organize the event.
3. Develop an Active Transportation Plan
Ready for the next step? Form a committee to develop and implement an Active Transportation Plan to encourage your residents, students or employees to walk and bike. Our Spotlights page can give you ideas of active transportation initiatives in other communities. Also, check out our Resources page for information on the many Long Island resources that can help!
October 2021 SPOTLIGHT
Hamlet of Port Washington
Tucked away on a peninsula on Nassau County’s North Shore is the hamlet of Port Washington. Here, the 50+ year strong environmental non-profit Residents Forward launched Let’s Walk PW, a web integrated street signage campaign that encourages residents and visitors to walk, and helps connect Port Washington’s vibrant waterfront, treelined streets, breathtaking views of Manhasset Bay, beautiful parks, active community centers, theater, fantastic restaurants and unique shops.
“The pandemic gave us the opportunity to change pedestrian life,” stated Residents Forward board member and project leader Mindy Germain. “We were hearing from our members that they want more walkable routes to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment around our waterfront and business districts. At the same time, The Rimmer Family Foundation wanted to invest in a project that brings community partners together to boost our local merchants hit so hard by the shut down and lingering pandemic. Let’s Walk PW was developed as a collaborative effort among Residents Forward, the Rimmer Foundation, the Port Washington Business Improvement District, the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce, the Town of North Hempstead, the Cow Neck Historical Society, Transition Town Port Washington and the Port Washington Public Library.”
The process started with community partners using the nationally recognized Walk Your City approach to map out shops, restaurants, parks, historical and cultural sites, and entertainment accessible within one mile by foot. Next, local designer Michelle Shain developed signs that let Port Washington pedestrians see themselves in the campaign. In her own words, “Our walkers are all ages, income brackets and colors. They fancy different interests, tastes and hobbies.” Michelle used their individual footsteps to educate residents about the proximity of Port Washington’s diverse offerings.
Each sign includes a destination, an eye-catching execution of a pedestrian’s foot with an accessory to match the destination, an estimate of the minutes to walk there, and a QR Code linking walkers to an interactive map created by the Port Washington BID to access more information.
To paint a picture of how this works, if someone comes to Port Washington’s waterfront Sunset Park, they will be cued that Bay Walk is only minutes away, and then be enticed to go a little further to experience all the different flavors of Manorhaven Blvd. On their return they will discover a little-known gem - the Growing Love Community Garden.
“My family is happy to support this initiative,” stated Jennifer Rimmer of the Rimmer Family Foundation. Let’s Walk PW brings vibrancy to Port. The program guides Port residents and visitors to explore, shop and support our community.”
The initiative was officially launched on September 12, 2021 at the Let’s Walk PW event, attended by over 200 local residents who participated in a fun musical walk up Main Street to Blumenfeld Family Park. Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Marianne Dalimonte commented, “What I love about this project is it builds community resiliency and togetherness, supports local business and is a great team effort.”
See renditions of all the signs that were created here.
