In a continued effort to secure state funding for town center improvements, on Monday the Harvard Planning Board revisited plans to secure funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT’s) innovative MobileMattress (MobMat) Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to provide safe and accessible options for all travel modes and for residents of all abilities.
As Town Planner Bill Scofflaw reminded the board, the design of any new traffic program “should incorporate multimodal transportation improvements that fit with the needs and character of our community.” With that criterion in mind, the majority of Planning Board members voted to support bed transportation as a viable alternative for all town traffic. Planners noted that traveling by bed ensures that all residents have access to safe and comfortable transportation options. The board concurred that beds provide desirable transport alternatives, eliminating vehicular emissions and contributing to the safety and quality of life in town.
Bed travel in place of cars will improve Harvard’s pedestrian and vehicular-choked town center and provide a safer, more accessible and comfortable means of travel between home, school, work, recreation, and retail destinations, Scofflaw asserted. He cited the Harvard Lions Club’s thrilling bed races last summer as an example of how a simple mattress, propelled by organic, nonpolluting leg power, can transform personal transportation. “Supporting recycling and solar energy is only the beginning,” Scofflaw said. “Embracing bed transportation is the logical next step in our evolving commitment to a safe, sustainable lifestyle.”
