This summer, with the funding support of Main Street America, GObike is partnering with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, SAIRA Creative, and the City of Buffalo to bring a Traffic Garden to Front Park!

Rooted in community participation, education, and safety, Traffic Gardens have been used across the globe to activate underutilized public spaces—creating small-scale traffic worlds where young and new cyclists learn cycling skills and roadway safety through active play.

By carving out dedicated space for youth and beginner cyclists to build confidence and skills, the Front Park traffic Garden will reclaim a paved lot long impacted by reckless driving and repurpose it to serve cyclists both local and visiting.

Through the design and installation of this Traffic Garden, we will not only mitigate dangerous vehicle behavior but also create a space for gathering, art-making, and hands-on education within one of Downtown’s historic parks. Our hope is for the Traffic Garden to not only better integrate Front Park into the surrounding neighborhood, but also elevate it into a destination for residents seeking safe, welcoming public space.

We aim for this to serve as a model and replicable framework for comprehensive, community-centered road safety education. This Traffic Garden will also establish a permanent, purpose-built space to elevate this programming and support partner organizations delivering similar services such as Wheels for Workers, Slow Roll, East Side Bike Club, and WNY Trendy Tikes.

Images Property of Traffic Garden Designs; please visit their website at trafficgardens.com to learn more, and to view their incredible Traffic Garden examples!

May 2026: Data Collection – Complete

June & July 2026: Community Vision Survey & Public Art Workshop – Complete

August 2026: Design and Public Review

September 2026: Traffic Garden Installation & Site Activation

October 2026: Data Collection