Promise Zone Ride highlights Health and Safer Streets

Our second Milwaukee Promise Zone Ride saw a great turnout in a rare dry spell during an otherwise cool and wet week in May.  About 30 riders from the neighborhood and around the City met Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton and Alderman Khalif Rainey for a fun bike ride through portions of the 1st and 7th Aldermanic Districts in the Old North Milwaukee Promise Zone area.  We started and ended the ride in Garden Homes Square at 2600 W Atkinson Ave.Big thanks to all of the supporters and co-sponsors: City of Milwaukee Promise Zones, NWSCDC, Black Girls Do Bike, Bublr Bikes, Dream Bikes, The Corridor Corp, Red Bike Green, the Wisconsin Bike Fed, Uniting Garden Homes Inc, and Outpost Natural Foods!  This is truly a partnership with support from many organizations.Did you miss the ride on Saturday? That's ok, join us in supporting a Milwaukee Complete Streets Policy by signing the petition here:  http://act.voicesactioncenter.org/pEFn1JWFrom the campaign page: "Did you know that it’s difficult for many Milwaukean's to be physically active in their neighborhoods because our streets lack the sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks needed for safe travel? To work toward streets that are safe and easy for people of all ages and abilities, the City of Milwaukee is pursuing a Complete Streets policy and neighbors and community groups are organizing to help pass a strong policy."We demonstrated a safer crosswalk at 26th and Atkinson on Saturday morning.  The WI Bike Fed provided tires and planters placed in the street to shorten the distance needed to walk across the street.  Neighbors from right around the Garden Homes park joined our discussion and shared their difficulties in walking just one or two blocks to shops and church when their route crosses busy streets.