In our "Get to Know..." articles, we feature a member organization of the Western New York Environmental Alliance on a regular basis.
We think you should to get to know...
The Basics:
Green Options Buffalo (GO-Buffalo) works to create healthy, environmentally sustainable, community friendly transportation in the Greater Buffalo Region. Through advocacy, infrastructure improvements and community programs, GO-Buffalo strives to make positive impacts in our environment, community, personal health and economy by enhancing Buffalo’s quality of life attracting others here to live, work and play.
GO-Buffalo began programming about 8 years ago out of the Wellness Institute and today has become its own not-for-profit with Executive Director Justin Booth.
Programs and Policies
The programs initiated and the policies advocated for by GO-Buffalo aim to create bicycle-friendly communities throughout the Greater Buffalo area. These include:
Community Bicycle Workshops
Every Sunday 1-5pm and Tuesday/Thursday 7-10pm, head to 98 Colvin Ave. for a do-it-yourself workshop to repair your own bike, or volunteer to help fix up bikes that will be put out into the community.
Recycle-A-Bicycle
Through this after-school program for at-risk youth, kids build their own bicycles, as well as learn bicycle repair and maintenance, environmental and health benefits of riding a bike, and bike safety.
Bicycle Benefits
Another perk to riding bicycles in Buffalo! Bikers get discounts and incentives at select local businesses with their Bicycle Benefits sticker displayed on their helmets!
Complete Streets Legislation
One of the most important ways to increase bicycling is to make the streets safer, easier, and friendlier for bikers. GO-Buffalo has helped to bring Complete Streets legislation to Buffalo, which will give consideration to all types of commuters on the roadways throughout the city. New bike paths will be popping up around Buffalo in the near future.
Commercial District Bicycle Parking
Look for the blue bicycle racks around the buffalo commercial district downtown for a place to park your bike! Request your own >> Bicycle Parking in Buffalo
Bike to Work Toolkit
Biking to work made easy with these tips and tools provided by GO-Buffalo. Find out the best bicycle route to work with “By-Bicycle”, learn the “Bicycling Rules of the Road”, and more!
Visit www.greenoptionsbuffalo.org for more details about these and GO-Buffalo's other programs and policies.
Membership
Your membership with Green Options Buffalo makes biking better for both you and your community. There are different levels of membership, but for $25, you become a standard Blue Commuter gaining access to the Community Workshop, Bicycle Benefit incentives, and 10% off MAP’s tour de farms registration! Feeling even more tipsy? Become a Green or a Platinum Commuter you can get a “Settler” membership with Buffalo Car Share, or even a signature bike rack installed in the location of your choice!
Did You Know?
- Buffalo ranks 20th among cities nationwide for bicycle commuters.*
Costs of car ownership - click image to englarge. ** - The cost of a car annually is about $8,000. Think about what else you could spend that on if you rode your bike for even half the year!**
- If we took 15,000 cars off the road, we would put $15 million back into the local economy!**
- Between 2000 and 2009, the number of commuters using bicycles in Buffalo increased by 158%.*
- Dr. Michael Cropp, President and CEO of Independent Health, bikes to work and encourages his employees to as well.
Give to GO-Buffalo
Donate to GO-Buffalo >> Help Green Options Buffalo advocate for healthy and sustainable transportation options for our community by making a donation in any amount you wish through credit card or PayPal.
Drink up locally brewed Rusty Chain beer at your next Happy Hour! >> Every Flying Bison’s Rusty Chain purchase goes towards supporting bikes racks installed around the city through Green Options’ Commercial District Bicycle Parking program!
Donate unused bicycles to Green Options Buffalo and help to get more bikers on the road!
Stay In Touch
Now that you know about GO-Buffalo, keep in touch with them!
Website: www.greenoptionsbuffalo.org
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 716-218-7161
Address: 640 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 (map)
Talk with Go-Buffalo on Facebook and Twitter!
Check out our interview with Executive Director, Justin Booth >> GrowWNY Interview: Justin Booth, Green Options Buffalo
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
* 2000-2009 Bicycle Commuter Rates in U.S. 70 Largest Cities http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/reports/pdfs/2009_bike_2000_2009.pdf
** Boost the Local Economy - Cut Car Ownership http://fortworthology.com/2011/02/18/boost-the-local-economy-cut-car-ownership/
