Transportation on a Stick: TLC & Move MN Ramp Up Outreach at the State Fair—and Beyond

 

By Dave Van Hattum, Transportation Policy Director

 

Bethany Winkels, Field Director, talks up transportation at the State Fair. Credit: Move MN

 

It has been an action-packed summer for the Move MN campaign. Transit for Livable Communities and our Move MN allies have been busy spreading the word about urgent transportation needs all across our state. At events ranging from street festivals in Minneapolis and Moorhead to county fairs in Windom and Owatonna, we’ve connected with a broad base of Minnesotans who agree it’s time to invest in expanded bus and rail, safe bicycling and walking options, and road and bridge repair and modernization.

This week, that message is striking a cord at the Great Minnesota Get-Together, where two dozen TLC members are working alongside TLC staff and our allies at AFSCME Council 5 and other Move MN partner organizations to hear what Minnesotan’s are saying about transportation and to build even more support for making transportation a top priority in 2015.

 

Thanks to all TLC members, staff & allies volunteering together at the State Fair!
Credit: Move MN.

Many thanks to these enthusiastic volunteers for sparking great transportation conversations every day of the State Fair! Special thanks to our friends at AFSCME Council 5 for sharing their booth with us this year. If you’re headed to the fairgrounds between now and Labor Day, be sure to stop in to see us at the Labor Pavilion—and sign a Move MN postcard while you’re there.

Bethany Winkels, our new Move MN Field Director, is leading the charge on these essential outreach efforts at the State Fair and beyond. An experienced organizer, Bethany hit the ground running earlier this summer and is doing a fantastic job to engage Minnesotans in every region of our state. Bethany, who works out of the TLC office, recognizes that transportation affects people every day.  As she puts it, “This isn’t a theoretical issue. Public safety, smart government, opportunity, and good jobs are all tied to transportation.”

TLC & Move MN at Franklin Avenue Open Streets earlier this month. Credit: TLC.

 

As summer turns to fall, TLC and Move MN are looking ahead to new opportunities to raise awareness about Minnesota’s transportation problem and our call for a balanced and sustainable solution. Look for us at these community events in September:

• Sept. 5 & 6 - Burnsville Fire Muster
• Sept. 7 - Saint Paul Classic Tour
• Sept. 20 - Bloomington Heritage Days
• Sept. 20 - Aurora Legendary Laurentian
• Sept. 21 - Saint Paul Open Streets
• Sept. 27 - Minneapolis Urban League Family Day

If you’re interesting in volunteering with us at any of these events, contact Bethany at [email protected].

We also encourage you to sign Move MN’s online petition encouraging Minnesota's next governor to make transportation the top priority in 2015. This petition will send a strong message to the three major party candidates, reminding them that Minnesota’s outdated and crumbling transportation system negatively impacts us all. As the petition says, in the spirit of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, let’s get together and fix transportation! Take action: sign the "Great Transportation Get-Together" petition now.