Sidney’s Rainbow Day” brings family-centric fun to downtown streets in hopes of paving the the way to safer, more livable towns
Andover, MA – April 30, 2024 – Today the family of 5-year-old Sidney Olson, who was killed by a tractor trailer in Andover last May, announced Sidney’s Rainbow Day, an event to be held on Saturday, May 11, in partnership with the Town of Andover. The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on closed streets behind Old Town Hall, featuring a range of family-friendly activities, including live music, an interactive art show, crafts, and a “wheels garden” to teach kids safe ways to ride.
At noon, there will be a rainbow-themed bike and scooter parade, followed by remarks from Sidney’s parents and public officials. In addition, dozens of downtown businesses will feature rainbow-themed specials in their shops. Children are also invited to contribute art that represents love and community for display at the event.
Since Sidney was killed in the Elm Square intersection on her way to art class, her friends and family have created the Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund, a non-profit charity focused on furthering Sidney’s legacy by creating “safer, more livable towns,” starting in Andover.
“Our downtown was such a happy place for Sid. People knew her as the girl who rode her scooter from shop to shop, bouncy curls flowing behind her,” said Eric Olson, Sidney’s father and president of the Rainbow Fund. “Every kid deserves that kind of freedom, but her death showed that few towns are designed to support it. We’re shutting down the streets and bringing our community together in hopes that we can show what it looks like when people flock to a vibrant, walkable downtown.”
In many parts of the country, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children. In fact, more than 1,000 children die each year from preventable crashes, and 160,000 more are injured, according to the US Department of Transportation.
“No kid should feel unsafe in their neighborhood, but Sid died just feet from the library in a well-marked crosswalk,” Olson said. “It was a wakeup call for us, and we quickly realized towns everywhere have a very solvable livability problem.”
Since the May 9th crash, the Rainbow Fund has worked with the town and pedestrian safety group WalkBike Andover to improve safety for vulnerable road users like Sidney, including the adoption of Vision Zero, a systematic approach to road safety, and three major areas of ongoing work.
1) Redesigning roads for all users, including establishing a sidewalk and bike network throughout town, something supported by Andover’s newly approved Complete Streets plan and other initiatives.
2) Reducing and enforcing speeds, including a townwide 25 mph speed limit, and video enforcement, which is currently under consideration in Massachusetts.
3) Addressing safety issues posed by large vehicles, including restrictions on deliveries and mandating safety controls common in other countries and required on state vehicles under the state’s vulnerable road users law.
Since the crash a year ago, Andover has made progress, but while their town is getting slowly safer, Sidney’s family believes events like this are critical for highlighting the opportunity to make towns across America safer, more livable places.
“We’re learning that livable towns are rare in America because most are designed to move traffic rather than support the wellbeing of residents,” said Mary Beth Ellis, Sidney’s mother and vice president of the Rainbow Fund. “I’ve been fortunate to live in other countries where families walk, bike, and gather safely in town squares. Better solutions exist – and everyone benefits. We’re hoping our advocacy in memory of Sidney will spark conversations and generate solutions on everything from truck safety requirements to speed enforcement.”
The event is made possible by presenting sponsors T&B Landscaping and Lillian Montalto Signature Properties International, the Town of Andover, and dozens of local businesses, non-profits, and schools.
For additional information, or to get involved as a sponsor or volunteer, please visit: https://www.therainbow.fund/rainbow-day.
About the Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund
Founded in 2023 after 5-year-old Sidney Olson was killed in an intersection, the Rainbow Fund is focused on furthering Sidney’s legacy of curiosity, kindness and community. Through its programs, the non-profit helps to create safer, more livable towns for families. Every year, more than 1,000 children are killed in traffic-related crashes in the US, and many thousands more are severely injured, making towns less livable places for families. The Rainbow Fund’s programs focus on fostering the key ingredients of livability, including designing safer ways to get around and opening access to programs that inspire a love for education and healthy lifestyles. Based in Andover, MA, the Rainbow Fund has already served hundreds of families in Massachusetts and received statewide and national media coverage for the advocacy work of its founders.
