What Moves Boston College
Starting the Transportation Conversation on Campus

In April 2025, Green Streets Initiative hosted an event called What Moves Boston College to kickstart the conversation among BC students and faculty around sustainable transportation. The event encouraged students and faculty to rethink how they move around the Greater Boston and explore greener transit and commuting options.

Event Highlights

Opening Activity

Attendees began the event by reflecting on the question, “What does sustainable transportation mean to you?”. This prompt sparked a range of thoughtful responses, from thoughts on carbon footprints and the environment to ideas about walking and alternative, green ways to get around.

Panel with Green Streets Leadership Team

Leaders from Green Streets Initiative shared their personal journeys around sustainable transportation, explaining what inspired them to get involved in this work and how GSI has expanded its positive impact over time.

Group Discussions

Participants broke into small groups to brainstorm how to make sustainable transit more accessible and appealing for college students. Attendees had a wide variety of ideas for keeping the transit conversation going at Boston College,

from improving electric bike trails and educating students on riding the “T” to on-campus programs that encourage sustainable commuting.

Student Testimonials

What Moves BC brought together students from a wide range of majors—business, environmental science, biology, political science, and more—for an interdisciplinary conversation on sustainable transit. We asked attendees, “What’s one takeaway from this event that changed how you think about your role in supporting sustainable transit?”.

Here were some of their insights:

Ruby

Psychology Major, BC ‘25

“Not only are we helping our planet by making it more sustainable, but we’re also committing ourselves to live healthier lifestyles.”

Milana

Biology Major, BC ‘25

“Green transport can really build communities. I really loved hearing a lot of people’s stories about their new ways of getting to work or getting to school.”

Aidan

Business Major, BC ‘25

“One thing I took away…is how easy green transportation is. You can walk, you can take the T, or you can do shared rides.”

Next Steps for Students

Inspired to start the sustainable transportation conversation at your high school or college? Here are some ideas for how you can get involved:

Stay connected with Green Streets Initiative to learn more about upcoming sustainable transit initiatives and volunteer opportunities in the Greater Boston area.
Start a student-led initiative focused on improving transit access, infrastructure, and education on and around campus. Host an event and ask your peers: What moves your campus community?

Explore existing opportunities to engage in sustainable transit like discounted student transit passes, e-bike membership programs, and other ways to integrate public transit, walking, and biking in your weekly travel.