day of the event

planning for the event

Volunteer Descriptions

Day of the event

BLOCK CAPTAIN:

• On a bicycle, oversee all volunteers within a segment of the open streets route
• Ensure there are enough volunteers for that segment and that they are fulfilling their responsibilities
• Each Block Captain should have a volunteer map of the route segment they are responsible for.
• Be prepared to address any issues that might arise within their segment of the route

ROVING CYCLISTS:

• Circulate through a portion (1-2 miles) of route for duration of an Open Streets day
• Encourage people to move into the roadway and off of the sidewalks when the program begins
• Routinely check on Ambassadors and Intersection Monitors and offer biology breaks.
• As the end of the program nears (in 30, 20, 15, 10, 5 minutes), advise participants and volunteers, and ensure once it is officially over that participants move back onto to the sidewalks.
• Under the direction of a Block Captain, circulate through the portion of the route under their direction.
• Ensure this portion of the route is constantly staffed with the appropriate number of volunteers for the route.
• It is important that Roving Cyclists be familiar with the various responsibilities of the volunteers they offer breaks to.

BARRICADE ATTENDANTS / RECYCLING MONITORS:

• Responsible for looking after a hard closed street, typically hard closed with a barricade
• Prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering the route
• Assist with entrance/exit of authorized vehicles (if permitted)
• Greet participants as they enter/exit Open Streets
• Answer questions as necessary
• Encourage Ambassadors to make the barricade “their own” with music, signs, decorations, costumes, etc.

INTERSECTION MONITORS:

• Stop participants on the Open Streets route, with signage or bright colored rope, when they come to a red light at a car crossing point.
• Keep participants from entering the intersection while cars move through the intersection on their green light.
• When the participants have a green light, move the sign or rope and allow participants to move through the intersection

EVALUATORS

• Collect information from Open Streets participants by conducting surveys
• Count participants at the top of each hour
• Gather testimonials from all different types of participants

SET UP AND TAKE DOWN

• Assist with set-up or take-down of barricades, signage, tents, activity hubs, cones, clean up, and other operational logistics before and after the event.

DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ASSISTANTS

• Help the leads set up materials used to construct the protected bikeways, parklets and safe crosswalks

LOST & FOUND STATION

• Man the station, connecting lost children to their parents and lost items to their owners

HEALTH & MUSIC PROGRAMMING ASSISTANTS

• Ensure that bands and health leads follow their schedule and location placement

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Instagram photos and videos on the day of the event

Planning For the Event

STREET CHIEF

• Rally your neighbors on your street around the event. Tell them how they can be involved and what to expect

PORCHFEST HOST

• If your home is on the route or slightly off, volunteer to host a band or musician on your porch or front/back yards

BANDS / MUSICIANS

• Play for 1 hour on the day of the event on someone’s front porch or yard

YOGA / ZUMBA / PILATES / RUNNING / WALKING

• Lead a health related activity for 1 hour

KIDS BIKE RIDE LEADERS / SHEPHERDS

• Take kids on a bike ride of the route at a predetermined time

DEMONSTRATION PROJECT CHIEFS

• Help plan and orchestrate the construction of the protected bike lanes, parklets and crosswalks