On August 6, 2024, Transform staff took part in National Night Out events at two affordable housing sites with Mobility Hubs pilots. We shared information on mobility options and the transportation measure Transform is supporting while sharing food and fun with neighbors of all ages.

What is National Night Out?

National Night Out is a night of community gathering held in neighborhoods across California on the first Tuesday of August each year. It started as a way to connect community members and local law enforcement in a positive setting. This August, the event’s 40th year, gatherings at Betty Ann Gardens in San Jose and Lion Creek Crossings in Oakland focused more on bringing community members together to connect them to community resources and continue conversations about transportation needs in order to improve the services for these communities.

Great turnout for community building event

At Lion Creek Crossings, about 250 people came together for food, fun, and prizes. With our partners from East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, residents had a wealth of activities to dive into! From button-making through the Oakland Public Library to receiving family resources from BANANAS, there was something for everyone! Transform was promoting our Mobility Hubs offerings, signing up 25 people for the AC Transit Easy Pass and registering another 25 for Lyft ride credits. 

Lion Creek Crossings

Through our Mobility Hubs program, Lion Creek community members held a bike build the weekend before the event to assemble 15 kids’ bikes, and we also had 15 adult bikes on hand, all with help from our friends at Cycles of Change. Residents at the National Night Out event who completed a passport by visiting all the tables and signing up for an Easy Pass and/or Lyft credits were entered into a drawing for 20 bikes; we gave away 10 more after to those who took a Mobility Hubs program survey. The residents we spoke with were generally supportive of transit and opportunities to fund transit like the regional measure. They loved that transit was nearby, but they wanted to see more frequent service.

At Betty Ann Gardens, about 40 people enjoyed hot food and face painting. Transform brought a bike blender, and kids and adults made human-powered smoothies. The Mobility Hubs interns talked with residents about the new on-site electric vehicle carshare, held a drawing, and gave out prizes at a festive and fun event.

Betty Ann Gardens