Go Human 2023 Year In Review

News

In 2023, Go Human directed resources to community-led safety and engagement strategies, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by traffic violence and that have been historically excluded from transportation investments. Go Human collaborated with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, cities, and local agencies throughout the region to help build safer and healthier places by: 

  • Directing $360,000 in grant funding to 11 Community Hubs projects to support community-led traffic safety efforts.
  • Funding and developing six (6) Oral History videos, amplifying community voices across the region.
  • Creating and distributing over 7,000 co-branded safety materials.
  • Securing 11 new Safety Pledge Signatories from jurisdictions committing to improving traffic safety.
  • Deploying and showcasing SCAG’s Kit of Parts to support 12 temporary safety demonstration projects across the region.  

Read more on highlights from 2023 below. 

Go Human Community Hubs Grant Projects 

This year, the Go Human Community Hubs Grant Program provided funding for community-based organizations to implement local traffic safety strategies SCAG awarded $360,000 to 11 community-based organizations across six counties within the SCAG region to lead walk audits, bicycle rodeos, bike repair workshops, safety material distribution, ‘zine development, and more. Awardees distributed thousands of safety materials, spread awareness through social media campaigns, and held meaningful in person projects, directly informing planning efforts and community change. 

To learn more about the 2023 awardees, check out our blog post announcing the 11 awarded projects.

To read more about their creative strategies and successes, check out our 2023 Community Hubs Final Report linked below.

VIEW THE COMMUNITY HUBS FINAL REPORTS

The Kit of Parts Lending Library & Temporary Safety Demonstrations

The Go Human Kit of Parts, offered as a “lending library,” creates opportunities for partners to borrow materials to showcase temporary traffic safety improvements as a community engagement and feedback strategy. In 2023, partners across the region utilized the Kit of Parts in 12 temporary safety demonstrations throughout the region.

The temporary demonstrations reached over 2,850 people and secured 121 surveys, including the following partners:

  • City of Banning at the Market Night Friday as part of the City’s Active Transportation Plan project.
  • City of Buena Park at the Food Truck Festival event in the Ehlers Event Center.
  • Reach Out and the Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District at the Skate Thru Summer Event in Jurupa Valley State Park.
  • City of Montebello at the Downtown Street Fest.
  • City of Duarte Safe Routes to School at the Summer Concert Series in Beardslee Park.
  • City of Port Hueneme at the City of Port Hueneme Health & Wellness Fair.
  • City of Irvine at the ReEnvision South Yale Avenue event on Yale Avenue and Michelson Drive/Royce Road.
  • Santa Ana Active Streets at the Willard Safe Streets Summer Night Celebration on the intersection of 15th Street and Ross Street.
  • Altadena Town Council at the Altadena Safe Streets Traffic Safety Pop-Up event. event
  • City of Lancaster & Antelope Valley Partners for Health at the Lancaster Walk n Roll Open Streets event.
  • City of Los Angeles’s Walk to School Day Event at Young Oak Kim Academy in Koreatown.
  • City of Menifee at the Clean Air Day Expo at Mt. San Jacinto College.

Safety Demonstration Project Spotlight: From Pop-Up to Permanent in Cathedral City

After demonstrating potential traffic safety improvements using the Go Human Kit of Parts, the City of Cathedral City moved toward permanent implementation of safety improvements. After showcasing and collecting feedback on temporary bike lanes and an artistic crosswalk as well as hosting an interactive traffic calming activity at the city-sponsored Butterfly Festival in 2022, the demonstration was included in the city’s SCAG-funded Active Transportation Plan, adopted by the Cathedral City City Council in February 2023. As part of the Active Transportation Program Cycle 5 grant funding, Cathedral City has since awarded construction contracts for the installation of significant bike lane infrastructure!

Communications & Storytelling Campaign

This year, through communications and storytelling, Go Human amplified partner traffic safety improvements and commitments. The storytelling campaign resulted in the development of six Oral Histories videos, a Traffic Safety Pledge Drive, and traffic safety training materials and presentations created by local community experts.

Oral Histories

As part of its storytelling efforts in 2023, Go Human collaborated with six community-based organizations and leaders to develop Community Oral History Videos that center local narratives and promote transportation safety and mobility justice, to highlight diverse strategies to address mobility challenges throughout the region. Rooted in personal narratives, the videos explore how people in their communities are working to make streets safer and more accessible for all.  Explore the full feature Oral Histories videos here below. 

FULL FEATURE ORAL HISTORIES VIDEOS

Traffic Safety Pledge

SCAG’s Go Human Pledge invites jurisdictions to commit to designing and building safer streets. In 2023, the total number of signatories increased to 183 following the procurement of 11 new jurisdiction Traffic Safety Pledges. Each signatory represents a commitment by jurisdictions and agencies to become safety leaders within the SCAG region and each signatory is provided with resources to support their effort. New signatories from 2023 include:

  • Township of Altadena
  • City of Bell Gardens
  • City of Colton
  • City of Huntington Beach
  • City of Irvine
  • City of Jurupa Valley
  • City of Laguna Niguel
  • City of Lancaster
  • City of Menifee
  • City of Port Hueneme
  • City of Santa Monica

SCAG’s Go Human makes traffic safety messaging materials available to partners across the region. In 2023, Go Human provided materials to more than 25 partners, including schools, cities, community organizations and regional agencies, reaching over 200,000 people.

In 2023, seven SCAG partner projects received recognition from the American Planning Association (APA) from both local sections and the state chapter.  Congratulations to the award winners below!

  • Public Matters: “” (2021 and 2022 Mini-Grant Awardee) awarded the Grassroots Initiative Award of Merit by the APA Los Angeles Section and California Chapter.
  • Santa Ana Active Streets: “Willard Safe Streets” (2021 and 2022 Mini-Grant Awardee) awarded the Grassroots Initiative Award of Excellence by APA Orange County Section and California Chapter.
  • The Artlands, in partnership with OmniTrans: “Revitalizing Public Transportation Through Bus Bench Art” (2021 and 2022 Mini-Grant Awardee) awarded the Grassroots Initiative Award of Excellence by APA Inland Empire Section.
  • Los Angeles Walks: “Promotores for Safe Streets: A Model for Public Outreach Investments” (2022 Mini-Grant Awardee) awarded the Public Outreach Award of Merit by APA Los Angeles Section.
  • The City of Laguna Niguel: “Niguel Hills Middle School Safety Program” (2022 Kit of Parts Demonstration Partner) awarded the Small Jurisdiction Implementation Award of Excellence by the APA Orange County Section.

Looking Ahead to 2024

SCAG will continue to support local traffic safety and community engagement through a suite of Go Human strategies and resources in 2024! Planned activities include:

  • Safety demonstration projects, offering the Kit of Parts lending library to partners at no cost and expanding its reach through technical assistance.
  • Go Human Community Streets Grant Program, a funding opportunity for community-based partners in the region.
  • Co-branded safety advertisements, continuing production and distribution of print and digital graphics provided at no cost to local agencies and jurisdictions.

An exciting year of traffic safety activities just came to a close, but Go Human resources are available year-round! Request co-branded digital materials or reserve the Kit of Parts at no cost by contacting gohuman@scag.ca.gov. Stay updated on the latest details or upcoming events concerning SCAG’s Go Human campaign by following us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Funding for Go Human is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).