The West Side Mobility project, led by GOBike Buffalo, delivers a multifaceted approach to enhance quality of life in Buffalo’s Lower West Side. This initiative goes beyond a study and report, aiming to reduce the health and air quality impacts of single-occupant vehicles through actionable community-driven solutions
The project includes temporary installations on the streets with a comprehensive final report with recommendations to be compiled and completed by September 2027 to evaluate the impact and guide future policies.
Carshare and Temporary Traffic-calming Installations
A key deliverable is a 2-car electric carshare pilot, launching in 2026, alongside quick-build traffic calming projects at up to three intersections starting in Spring 2026. These installations will test and promote active and electric micro-mobility options.
GoBike is transforming the lower west side by centering resident voices through monthly Block club stakeholder meetings, introducing carshare and bike giveaways, and implementing traffic calming measures.
This project is funded by the NYS DEC Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant
Project Partners
Project Timeline
Fall 2025
- The project kicks off with site selection and launch preparations for the Car Share program by finalizing the 2-car hub location in collaboration with Winn Companies and equipping electric vehicles with Mobility Development. The car share pilot will launch in Fall 2025 to introduce this new mobility option.
- Simultaneously, community engagement begins with the start of monthly stakeholder meetings in Block club groups and the distribution of outreach materials to connect with residents, businesses, and community.
- GObike will start planning for traffic calming designs, focusing on up to three intersections using safety data and public input to guide improvements.
Winter 2026
- Commuter Survey: To understand how residents commute and their transportation needs.Early utilization of the car share program will be monitored, aiming for 4 hours of use per car per month, with community feedback collected to assess its impact.
- Preliminary traffic calming designs will be refined with stakeholder input to ensure they meet local needs.
- Kick off with the introduction of commuter rewards and discounted Reddy BikeShare memberships to encourage broader participation in sustainable transport options.
Spring 2026
- Infrastructure rollout begins with the implementation of traffic calming improvements at selected intersections to enhance safety.
- The car share program will grow, alongside the launch of mobile bicycle repair services and giveaways to support active transportation.
- Pre-implementation safety data will be gathered to establish a baseline for future evaluations.
Summer 2026
- Community support continues with ongoing bike repairs and giveaways, complemented by the distribution of free 30-day transit passes to promote public transit use.
- Car share utilization will be assessed, with a goal of reaching 6 hours per car per month, while post-implementation safety data for traffic calming measures will be collected to measure progress.
Fall 2026
- Progress will be reviewed by evaluating the car share program, targeting 1,000 trips, and completing the traffic calming evaluation report with pre- and post-data.
- Community engagement will be strengthened with updated outreach materials to maintain momentum.
- Initial recommendations for sustainable transportation policies will also be drafted to guide future efforts.
Winter 2027
- Final reporting will take place with the preparation of the car share impact report by Winter 2026, accompanied by wrap-up stakeholder meetings to reflect on the project.
- Ongoing engagement for sustainable transportation options will continue to keep the community involved and informed.
Spring 2027
- A community shareout will present success metrics and lessons learned to residents, while transition planning will outline next steps for ongoing programs to ensure lasting impact.
- Final evaluations will be conducted to assess overall outcomes and adjust metrics as needed. A comprehensive report will be prepared and shared with stakeholders, while community support for mobility initiatives will be maintained to sustain progress.
Fall 2027
- The project will conclude by September 30, 2027, with the submission of the final report, summarizing achievements and providing a foundation for future mobility enhancements in the lower west side.
Learn more about the physical elements of complete streets:
Bike Lane/Cycle Track: A portion of the roadway that has been designated by striping, signage, and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. Bike lanes enable bicyclists to ride at their preferred speed without interference from prevailing traffic conditions and facilitate predictable behavior and movements between bicyclists and motorists. (More information)
A cycle track places all bike activity on one side of the roadway and provides two-way travel for bikes that are physically separated from vehicles. (More Information)
Sidewalk Extension: Provides additional pedestrian space at street corners by extending sidewalk space into the roadway, thus narrowing driving lanes and creating a shorter distance for pedestrians to cross the roadway safely. (More Information)
Crosswalk & Pedestrian Island: Using white paint to demonstrate the path pedestrians should take when crossing the road, crosswalks should be designed to offer as much comfort and protection to pedestrians as possible, while helping to facilitate eye contact by moving pedestrians directly into the driver’s field of vision. (More information)
To supplement crosswalks, a space can be installed partway through the crosswalk using rubber curb barriers and bollards to create additional protection for pedestrians as they cross, called pedestrian islands.