How We’re Making Streets Safer in 2026
Last Year, The Urbanist Coalition began it’s Tactical Urbanism Program by building a new crosswalk at Washington & Madison. This year, we will be expanding our program to two new locations, and partnering with the Parkside Neighborhood Association for a third.
What is Tactical Urbanism?
Tactical Urbanism is an approach to street safety, where volunteers and community members make the changes we want to see in our neighborhood.
It’s a comparatively quick and inexpensive way to redesign streets and roads for safety. Rather than wait years for redesign blueprints, environmental reviews, and federal grant funding, volunteers can build a project rapidly using simple tools and materials in a few weeks.
It may not solve every issue, but it’s better than what was there before.
What are we building this year?
We are building three projects, and assisting with a fourth. If you want to help out with any of these projects, sign up here!
Washington & Madison Crosswalk & Bumpouts
This is the project that we built last year. This year, we will be updating it with some light modifications.
Adding bumpouts in the “no parking” spots on the northern side of Madison.
Removing Yellow Delineators - They were struck regularly by larger vehicles turning.
Congress & Avon Bumpouts
A few years ago, the Bike Coalition of Maine installed bumpouts at this location. Those bumpouts only lasted for a single summer. This year, we will be installing bumpouts on both sides of the intersection, as well as installing planters and paint. Hopefully, the heavier materials and paint will discourage drivers from parking so close, or even on top of, the crosswalk.
Additionally, we look to maintain this project for the forseeable future, updating and reinstalling it each year.
Note: It seems someone has already installed delineators on the southern side of Congress & Avon. We deeply appreciate whoever did it, but it wasn’t us!
Hanover & Lancaster Bumpouts & Bike Corrals
This installation was specifically requested by Argenta, a brewery at this corner. The Urbanist Coalition holds monthly socials at Argenta to drink and discuss urbanist issues in a casual setting.
After receiving some community feedback, we will be using our June beer social to demonstrate the layout and explain the installation to businesses and members of the community. We’ll be using cones and chalk to provide a general layout of what the installation will look like. If you are interested, visit Argenta on June 7th at 3pm!
Park & Weymouth Bumpouts - Partnership with Parkside Neighborhood Association
This project is not one we can claim sole credit for. We are providing technical and planning assistance to the Parkside Neighborhood Association to help them learn and stand on their own two feet.
This project will consist of bumpouts on all four corners of Park & Weymouth - or, as many know it, the blinking yellow in front of the Expo. With the knowledge and skills gained from this project, PNA hopes to explore new possibilities for more comprehensive redesigns of this intersection in 2027 and beyond.
When will you be building these projects?
This June! All of the Urbanist Coalition’s projects have been approved by the city for construction. All that’s left is purchasing materials and getting to work.
June 13 - Washington & Madison Reinstallation
June 14 - Congress & Avon
TDB - Park & Weymouth, Hanover & Lancaster
