Knoxville Regional Smart Trips

Changes to Commuter Rewards

2011-09-06T15:24:00.005-04:00

We're unveiling changes to our Commuter Rewards program. And we think you're going to like them! Last quarter, thanks to our new ridematching system, participants got to choose their gift cards via their commute log page. We hope everyone is pleased with how much easier it has been to make your gift card selection this way. It has certainly made things easier on our end!

The third quarter of 2011 will end on September 30. (I know we can't believe it either!) The gift card selection button is already in place and those of you who have already earned enough credits can go ahead and make your gift card choice. For those of you who have not yet reached the threshold, you will have until October 14 to log the required total of 30 days (60 individual one-way trips) taken between July 1 and September 30 to be eligible for a gift card.

The quarter runs July 1 to September 30, so only commutes made within those dates count. You must log your commutes by October 14th or they will not count toward your gift card eligibility. (Your "total points" are actually all the commutes you've logged, not just the ones that count toward this quarter's gift card.) If in doubt about your point totals go to an individual month and see how many points you have earned for the month, compare this with your calendar entries of point earning trips - each little square that represents a trip made by carpool, bus, bicycle, walking or teleworking. These numbers should match. Remember you do not earn points for drive alone trips or days off.

Starting this quarter, if you have earned enough points to do so, you may choose up to 2 (two TOTAL) gift cards for the quarter. Since each gift card requires 60 points, it will take a total of 120 points to order two. This next part is important - no matter how many points are earned above 120, or how many gift cards are selected in excess of 2, only 2 will be sent. Remember points have no cash value, so if points are left over the total only represents the total number of trips logged. Nothing is lost if points are showing remaining beyond the two gift cards chosen.

Also new this quarter, at the time you make your gift card selection the system will prompt you to verify your correct mailing address. This is so we know where to mail the card and hopefully will prevent cards from coming back to us in the mail.

Finally, remember that cards will be mailed by the middle of the month following the end of a quarter. So for this quarter which ends on September 30, cards will be put into the mail by mid-October. If any group of cards will be going out later than that, participants will be notified by email.

Thank you so much for being part of Smart Trips. We are so happy to be able to offer you additional Commuter Rewards for your continued participation!

Second Quarter 2011 Update

2011-08-29T18:20:00.003-04:00

New Registrants

217 new participants registered for Smart Trips this quarter which is more than the three times the number of new registrants added in the last quarter and double the number added at the same time last year. This is likely due to Smart Trips’ marketing push to promote the 2011 Commuter Challenge (including transit, billboard, radio and print advertising) and the fact that gas prices topped $3.50 per gallon for the first time in two years.

Participation

Smart Trips switched to a new ridematching database, RideShark, on May 9, 2011. The reporting mechanism of the new system differs significantly from that used by the previous provider, Basetrak. Therefore, the numbers reported from this quarter forward will be presented in a different format.

Participation skyrocketed this quarter with 807 commuters logging at least one daily alternative commute. This figure nearly doubles the number of commuters who logged at least one alternative commute during the previous quarter and reflects an increase of 34% over this same time period during 2010.

295 individuals qualified for gift cards this quarter by actively logging more than 30 days (60 trips) worth of alternative commutes. This is up by 6% over the previous quarter but down negligibly from last year at the same time. This is attributable to difficulties with the new ridematching system and accurately accounting for the number of qualifiers. The number of gift cards distributed this quarter is 275.

Area commuters saved a total of $64,844.72 in fuel and maintenance costs this quarter, up from $47,317.47 last quarter and from $51,320.06 during the second quarter of 2010 when gas prices for much lower.

The amount of CO2 emissions reduced during the quarter was 374,714 pounds which represents a significant increase – nearly 30% - over last quarter’s reduction of 262,782 pounds and is also up from last year’s reduction of 292,719 pounds.

Employers

The RideShark system is not dependent on employer portal pages for logging commutes. The number of custom sub sites created in the new RideShark system is 33.

Marketing and Community Outreach

Smart Trips information was distributed by the Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program Ambassadors at Earthfest at Pellissippi State in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 16, 2011. This same day, Smart Trips advertising and marketing efforts for the 2011 Commuter Challenge broke with radio advertising on local NPR affiliate, WUOT; on KAT transit buses and on billboards.

On Wednesday, April 20, Smart Trips attended Oak Ridge National Labs Earth Day to promote the Commuter Challenge and to help them raise awareness about vanpooling. On Wednesday, April 27, Smart Trips attended the Association of Administrative Professionals event at Rothchild’s Conference Center. Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program Ambassadors also promoted Smart Trips at Oak Ridge Earth Day on Saturday, April 30.

Smart Trips was promoted at numerous events throughout Bike Month in May 2011 including Bike to Work Day on May 20 and the I Bike Knoxfest on May 22nd. Smart Trips advertisements appeared each week in May in the Knoxville print publication, Metropulse. Smart Trips attended the Farmer’s Market on Market Square opening day and the first Wednesday of June and July.

On Friday, May 27, Smart Trips held a guerilla marketing event on Market Square to raise awareness about CO2 emissions. Video footage of the event was posted on YouTube and is accessible from our website at www.knoxsplat.com.

Smart Trips' Facebook page (www.facebook.com/knoxsmarttrips) had 156 likes last quarter and is now up to 192.

Uplifting Commuting Stories

2011-06-10T10:36:00.004-04:00

The storm that passed through our region in late April left many damaged vehicles, homes and hearts in its wake. It's hard to imagine that anything good could have come from it but Smart Trips has learned from its participants that that is exactly what happened.

Hail took Smart Trips coordinator Alisa Ashouri's family from two cars down to one. "Simply put, we had to explore other options. At first my husband and I just made do with the one car and then I thought maybe it's time to check again and see if I have any carpool matches. Yes, I'm ashamed to admit, I was driving alone."

Between the new ridematching system and the many registrants signed up during the Commuter Challenge, Alisa found a carpool partner and is happy with the results. "We got our car fixed, but I'm still carpooling. It's great having someone to converse with on the way to and from work and not having to fill up my tank as often is pretty nice too!"

For Dr. Patricia Sura, another commuter whose windshield was damaged by the storm, bicycle commuting was the chosen alternative. During the month of May, while waiting for the windshield to be fixed, Dr. Sura used the bike to visit friends, run errands and to get back and forth from work. Once the car was fixed, she simply stayed with it. Dr. Sura has been chosen as Smart Trips April Commuter of the Month.

For information about the Smart Trips program and the Commuter Challenge, go to www.knoxsmarttrips.org.

Challenge Results through May 13, 2011

2011-05-27T09:41:00.000-04:00

Since May 1, participants in Smart Trips 2011 Commuter Challenge, www.knoxsplat.com, have removed more than 66,000 pounds of harmful CO2 emissions from the air.

In the Business Challenge, the University of Tennessee is the current overall leader with 50 points and 5,993 pounds of CO2 reduced. Elizabeth Eason Architecture leads the 1 to 20 employees’ category. The Metropolitan Planning Commission has the top spot in the 21 to 99 employees’ category, while 21st Mortgage currently holds the lead in the 100 to 350 employees group. Other leaders include TVA in the 351 to 1,499 employees group and UT in the 1,500 and up employees’ category.

Smart Trips is a regional organization that promotes alternatives to driving alone and helps commuters find carpool partners, bike and transit buddies, save money on gas and help the environment. Each year the organization holds a Commuter Challenge to increase participation and raise awareness. More information about the Challenge and the Smart Trips program is available at www.knoxsmarttrips.org.

New Ridematching System

2011-05-11T11:04:00.000-04:00

Our new ridematching system has been up a few days and I thought I'd take a moment to address a few things.

First, thank you so much for your tolerance and understanding during this transition. You make the Smart Trips program successful and we very much appreciate your participation and your patience! Next, if you have not already done so, please confirm your membership via the email sent to you by the new program or go to http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/ to join. Until this is done you won't be able to log your commutes or be eligible for prizes or the Emergency Ride Home program. Finally, if you are having any problems with accessing the site or going through the registration process, please contact me at smarttrips@knoxtrans.org or call (865) 215-2916. I would be happy to talk you through or offer whatever assistance I can.

Few more things:

Instructions for deleting or deactivating your account were sent in the original email, however, I can also do this from my end if you prefer.
The process of confirming your information only happens with the initial set up, after that you're just two clicks in to log your commutes each time you log on.
We've added complete instructions for logging commutes to the logging pages to make it clearer how to do this. But please let us know if you have any questions.

And don't forget the 2011 Commuter Challenge is underway. We're giving away Amazon Kindles, iPod Nano MP3 players, and a $1500 vacation package courtesy of AAA Travel of East Tennessee. More information about the Challenge is available at http://www.knoxsplat.com/.

First quarter 2011 Progress Report

2011-04-13T15:30:00.000-04:00

63 new participants registered for Smart Trips from January 1 through March 31, 2011 which was up over the last quarter and up significantly – more than 25% - over the same time period in 2010.

444 commuters submitted at least one daily commute log versus 457 at this time last year, thus reflecting a slight decrease in daily participation between 2010 and 2011. However, this may be due to the fact that this winter was one of the worst on record in the Knoxville area.

The total number of logs submitted by participants decreased from 65,798 in the last quarter (October 1 to December 30, 2010) to 61,684 this quarter. This also represented a drop from the same time in 2010 when 64,510 logs were recorded. Here again, the weather may have played a role.

Looking at the number of trips by mode, the number of carpool trips did increase from this quarter over last quarter by 478. Transit use increased by 6%, from 7,424 trips to 7,908. Vanpool trips increased from 269 to 283. The number of walking trips reported rose from 2,297 to 2,549. The number of telework trips dropped from 1,697 to 1,593. The number of bicycle commutes reported was fewer, dropping from 5,891 last quarter to 4,853 this quarter, but this was likely due to the particularly harsh winter with an unusual number of snowstorms and colder than average temperatures.

A total of 278 individuals qualified for gift cards this quarter by actively logging more than 30 days (60 trips) worth of alternative commutes. This represented an increase over last quarter but was down slightly from the same time last year when 285 participants qualified.

While gas prices in the region showed significant increases this quarter which probably resulted in the jump in registrations over this time last year and the increases in carpooling and transit use, extremely harsh weather and colder than average temperatures likely played a role in the decrease in overall participation.

See more detailed information on Smart Trips website at http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/.

4th Quarter 2010 Progress Report

2011-02-01T15:12:00.000-05:00

61 new participants registered for Smart Trips this quarter, up over the same period in 2009.

483 commuters submitted at least one daily commute log representing an increase over the same time period in 2009. There was a seasonal decline from summer into fall, as anticipated, but the decline was not as steep as last year’s – just 8% versus last year’s drop off of more than 17%.

At 65,798, the total number of logs submitted by participants from October 1 to December 30, 2010 exceeded the number submitted in 2009. And though there was a slight seasonal decline, at 5%, it was less than a third of the 16% decline reported from the third to fourth quarters of 2009.

The number of bicycle trips reported rose by more than 800 over the same time period in 2009; from 5,029 to 5,891. The number of carpool trips reported also grew – from 14,965 to 15,756. Walking trips reported increased by nearly 38%. Transit was down from the previous year, though the seasonal decline, at 12.8%, was not as steep as the 15.6% drop recorded in 2009. Vanpools, however, showed steep declines dropping from 890 recorded trips during this quarter in 2009 to just 269 recorded trips during the same time frame in 2010.

A total of 277 individuals qualified for gift cards this quarter by actively logging more than 30 days (60 trips) worth of alternative commutes. This was an increase over the same time last year and down by just 5% from the previous quarter. During the same time last year, that decline had been 10.3%.

Increases in participation were likely the result of rising gas prices which at some stations in the region came to just under the $3 per gallon mark. In the fourth quarter of 2008, retail gas prices were coming off summer highs in excess of $4 per gallon and commuters were still not driving alone at previous levels. In 2009, with gas prices ranging from $1.78 to $2.60 per gallon, commuters likely became more comfortable and returned to driving alone in greater numbers. 2010 saw prices steadily increase each month, from a February low of $2.64 per gallon to $2.99 per gallon by year’s end resulting in increases in Smart Trips participation. With oil and gas prices expected to rise through the summer of 2011, increased Smart Trips participation is anticipated.

The amount of CO2 emissions reduced during the fourth quarter of 2010 was 262,782 pounds which represented an increase over the fourth quarter of 2009 when 257,715 pounds were reduced.

Options in Ridesharing

2011-01-27T10:28:00.000-05:00

There are a number of options for those interested in sharing a ride.

There’s Smart Trips own ridematching database which allows Knoxville area commuters to quickly and easily find carpoolers headed in their same direction at about the same time. It’s easy to register and find a carpool partner on our website: http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/carpool.htm.

There are other online services that offer similar functions for other regions of the country or for certain segments of the population, for example Zimride (http://www.zimride.com/) which caters to college students.

Several new websites – CabCorner.com, Hitchsters.com, CabEasy.com, SplitACab.com and RideAmigos.com – offer the opportunity for sharing the cost of a cab ride. Primarily aimed at larger cities, the sites can be useful for those taking business or pleasure trips to more populated areas.

There’s also the concept of car-sharing, where vehicles are owned by an entity or community and made available to be shared for use for a fee. Companies such Zip Car (http://www.zipcar.com/) and Connect by Hertz (http://www.connectbyhertz.com/) operate car-sharing programs in cities across the U.S. Plans are underway to bring car-sharing to Knoxville.

All these options make for reduced emissions, cleaner air and less traffic congestion which are goals for the Smart Trips program as well. For more information about Smart Trips, check out our website: http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/.

The Ins and Outs of Commuter Rewards

2011-01-04T14:39:00.002-05:00

With the start of a new year, we thought it would be a good time to review the details of Smart Trips Commuter Rewards program.

Smart Trips participants who bicycle, carpool, take transit, vanpool, walk to work or work from home and log these efforts for 30 days (that’s 60 one-way trips) each quarter are eligible for Commuter Rewards. Quarters run January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December each year.

Early in the months of April, July, October and January, Smart Trips participants should receive an email reminding them to log their commutes by a specific date to be eligible for Commuter Rewards prizes, including $50 monthly and $100 quarterly gift cards to local vendors.

Those who meet the logging requirements each quarter - by the deadline - will then receive a second email directing them to make their choice of a $10 gift card from amongst Bliss, Café 4, Mast General Store, Panera Bread, Regal Cinemas, Three Rivers Market or Tomato Head by completing a very short survey in Survey Monkey.

Gift cards are not automatically sent, even to those who qualify. Participants must choose which card they want before one will be purchased for them and mailed out. We strive to accomplish this by the end of the month following a quarter.

For more information about Smart Trips Commuter Rewards program, check out our website: http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/rewards.htm.

The Future of Ridesharing?

2010-11-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

The most recent issue of TDM Review predicted that “the emergence of “real-time ride matching apps” for smart phones may be the tipping point that brings ride matching to the masses.”

One of these is AvegoTM Shared Transport (www.avego.com). It offers real-time search capability right from your cell phone. The app lets private cars and vans become part of the public transportation network by allowing drivers to offer their vacant seats to riders. A driver with vacant seats can be matched with riders in need of a ride along the same route at the same time. The cost of the trip can even be fairly calculated and charged to the rider.

Carticipate (www.carticipate.com) is another iPhone app with ride matching capabilities. But it is the first rideshare application on a location-aware mobile platform. iPhone users tell the app where they’re headed and Carticipate can pinpoint their location via iPhone’s built-in GPS and locate other Carticipate registered drivers or riders along the way. Carticipate works with Facebook, too.

Pretty soon there will likely be dozens of rideshare and trip planning apps like Avego and Carticipate. And with smart phone use predicted to grow, perhaps one day sharing a ride may become as commonplace as driving alone.

Of course, it's worth noting that Smart Trips currently offers ridematching on its website at http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/.

Tell Me About It

2010-11-12T09:41:00.003-05:00

Smart Trips recently held its first post-Commuter Challenge celebration event. This one was at the University of Tennessee to award the Green Spirit Award ‘Log” for most enthusiastic participation. Delicious Tomato Head pizza and Magpies cupcakes were enjoyed by all.

As usually happens at Smart Trips events, we get feedback on a variety of transportation topics – bus service glitches, long-awaited greenways, bike-lane markings and trolley schedules. I’m glad our participants feel comfortable sharing their transportation difficulties.

It would be great to learn about these concerns as they occur, so that they could be addressed in as timely a fashion as possible and since this might save someone else from encountering the same thing.

To that end, Smart Trips participants are encouraged to let us know about travel problems they run into while riding the bus, bicycling around town or carpooling as soon as they can. Please feel free to contact us at any time with your ideas, questions and concerns. You can share with us via our blog comments, or on facebook at www.facebook.com/knoxsmarttrips, via Twitter @knoxsmarttrips, or email to smarttrips@knoxtrans.org.

If It Was Easy

2010-11-03T14:11:00.000-04:00

This afternoon a friend said something both mundane and profound. We were discussing our diets – hers is really healthy; mine, not so much – and she said, “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” And I realized that that sentiment could apply to a lot of things.

If it was easy, everyone would eat healthy, be fit, and participate in Smart Trips. Truth is, sometimes, the very things that are best for us, and the world around us, are not the easiest things to do.

That’s just one reason Smart Trips strives to make green commuting as simple and pleasant as possible, from providing services such as our ride matching database and bicycle mentors to regularly offering participants gift cards and other prizes.

So as the weather turns colder and you contemplate whether to try clean commuting or keep on doing what you’re doing, remember, no one ever said it was going to be easy. But it sure can be rewarding – and in more ways than one.

More information about Smart Trips is available at www.knoxsmarttrips.org.

Contests and Luncheons and Prizes, Oh My

2010-10-19T14:01:00.000-04:00

Smart Trips’ first ever Social Media contest is underway and will run through Friday, October 22. Each morning on Smart Trips’ Twitter (@knoxsmarttrips) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/knoxsmarttrips) pages a trivia question will appear. In the afternoon, the answer to the question will be tweeted and posted. To be eligible to win a $25 gift card to Tomato Head contestants should email the list of answers to Smart Trips, smarttrips@knoxtrans.org. on Friday afternoon after the last answer appears. The prizewinner will be selected by random drawing from amongst entries with the correct answers.

Our Commuter Challenge 2010 Awards Luncheon was held Friday, October 15 at KAT’s new transit station. The top prize of a $500 gift certificate to hhgregg was awarded to Deborah Cherry, TVA. Winners on-hand to collect their Panasonic Blu-Ray players were Ken Crowley of Mast General Store, Christopher Smith with TVA, and Lorie Smith with Knox County. Winners present to collect Magellan GPS devices included, David Grant of ORNL, Bruce McCall of Roush Music, Gerry Moll, and Susanne Tarovella with Smee & Busby Architects.

Business prizes were also provided at the luncheon. The delicious meal was provided by The Parlor Catering Company.

Turns out the luncheon was also a Smart Trip as most arrived on foot, by bus or bicycle. Even the prizes were delivered by bike. Thanks so much to everyone who helped make our luncheon and the Commuter Challenge successful.

More information about the Challenge and the Smart Trips program is available at www.knoxsmarttrips.org.

Commuter Challenge Results Announced

2010-10-13T13:56:00.000-04:00

Smart Trips’ 2010 Commuter Challenge surpassed expectations with participants removing nearly half a million pounds of CO2 emissions from the air and overall participation topping 10%. Also, during the Challenge, bicycle commuting grew by 9% and transit use increased by 12%.

The winner of the overall Challenge and the category of 1 to 25 employees is Elizabeth Eason Architecture with 80% of its employees making at least 5 green commutes during the Challenge.

Other category winners are: Knox County Government in the 3,000 plus employees group with 2% participation; TVA in the 1,000 to 2,999 employees group with 2.5% participation; Kimberly Clark in the 500 to 999 employees group with 2.3% participation; Traveler’s Insurance in the 100 to 499 employees group with 3.1% participation; and Mast General Store in the 26 to 99 employees group with an impressive 27% participation rate.

Prizewinners include: Deborah Cherry, TVA; Lorrie Price, Y12; Susanne Tarovella, Smee & Busby Architects; Susan Henderson, Kimberly Clark; Rob Barker, ORNL; David Grant, ORNL; Elizabeth Ferguson, UT; Diana Hun, ORNL; Gerry Moll; Linda Wallace, Knox County; Bruce Mcall; Beverly Boyd; Lorie Smith, Knox County; Rene Jordan, Knox County Library; David Evola; Christoper Smith, ORNL; Ken Crowley, Mast General Store; Kevin Chan, ORNL; Tom Hooper, Traveler’s Insurance; Cher Bosch; and Pat Watson, Kimberly Clark.

Business and individual winners of prizes provided by hhgregg, Magpies Bakery, Smart Trips and Tomato Head will be recognized at a luncheon Friday, October 13 at Knoxville Station, KAT’s new transit facility on Church Avenue.

More information about the Challenge and the Smart Trips program is available at www.knoxsmarttrips.org.

Much Ado About Smart Trips

2010-09-30T14:12:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow marks the end of our 2010 Commuter Challenge. Be sure to log your September commutes by noon, Friday October 8 to be eligible for prizes. See where your company ranks in the employer standings at http://www.knoxsplat.com/.

On Saturday, October 2, Smart Trips and KAT will team up to host a stop on the KnoxVenture Race to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of East Tennessee. The stop will be at the new Knoxville Transit Station. For more information about the race go to, http://www.knoxventure.org/.

Also on Oct 2nd, the 10th anniversary Neighborhood Bike Ride will kick off at 10 a.m. Details available here, www.knoxtrans.org/bikeride/.

Finally, congratulations to the Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program! At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5, Mayor Haslam will accept Knoxville's Bicycle Friendly Community award at a ceremony along the Third Creek Greenway in Tyson Park. Everyone is invited to attend! For more information about the award and what it means for Knoxville read the press release, http://www.knoxtrans.org/meetings/releases/pr_bfc_bronze.pdf.

Eason Architecture Leads Commuter Challenge

2010-09-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

With only 8 days remaining in Smart Trips 2010 Commuter Challenge, Elizabeth Eason Architecture leads the overall competition and its group of 1 to 25 employees with 80 percent of the firm’s employees choosing green alternatives such as bicycling, walking, carpooling and taking transit to commute to work.

Other category leaders include Knox County Government in the 3,000 plus employees group; TVA in the 1,000 to 2,999 employees group; Kimberly Clark in the 500 to 999 employees group; 21st Mortgage and Travelers Insurance are currently tied in the 100 to 499 employees group; and the Metropolitan Planning Commission in the 26 to 99 employees group.

Those participating in the Challenge have removed more than 300,000 pounds of CO2 from the air so far – nearly 86,000 pounds in August alone.

The latest results show that there was significant growth in bicycle trips during the month of August at ORNL, TVA, the City of Knoxville, SAIC, the Knoxville News Sentinel, Knox County CAC and Maryville College. And transit use was up at some locations by as much as 300%!

ORNL had a gain of 2 percentage points in their overall standings. SAIC, UT and TVA had 1 percent gains. Way to go for it!

The company with the highest overall participation level will win a tasty Tomato Head pizza and Magpies cupcake party. Category winners will be recognized with certificates and Magpies cupcake parties.

Individuals who have made at least one green commute each week during the Challenge, 22 days or more, will have the opportunity to win Magellan GPS devices, Panasonic Blu-Ray Players and a $500 gift certificate to hhgregg courtesy of Smart Trips and hhgregg.

So hop on the bus, Gus

2010-09-07T14:43:00.000-04:00

Two articles in the August 16 edition of Passenger Transport magazine (http://passengertransport.apta.com/aptapt/issues/2010-08-16/email.html) specifically address the benefits of public transportation.

The first focuses on health benefits and summarizes a survey conducted on behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) which found that living near quality transit improves health and can even extend lifespan! The full report entitled, Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits, is available at http://www.apta.com/.

The second takes a look at the financial benefits of choosing transit and refers to APTA’s Transit Savings Report, released monthly, which indicates that individuals, on average, save $9,381 annually and $782 monthly by choosing transit over driving alone.

What are some other benefits of riding the bus?

 US reliance on foreign oil could be cut by more than 40% if just one in ten Americans used public transportation regularly.

 The National Safety Council estimates that riding the bus is more than 170 times safer than automobile travel.

 For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation is twice as fuel
efficient as private automobiles.

 Fully one quarter of those 75 and over do not drive; public transportation
is a lifeline for older adults.

Thank you, thank you and thank you!

2010-08-31T15:39:00.003-04:00

It’s time we here at Smart Trips took a few moments to thank our loyal participants and all the newcomers who have joined us so far this year. Thank you!

We’d also like to thank the more than 500 folks who turned out to participate in our first annual Clean Commute Day. (However, this number may go up because participants have 30 days to log their commutes. Final numbers won’t be in until September 21st.)

And while we’re at it, there are probably some mornings – especially in the winter - when you'd rather not bike to work, wait on the bus or pick up a carpool rider; and yet you do it anyway! Because of this we’d like to express our gratitude to our region's unsung environmental heroes. We appreciate them and so does the environment.

Give yourselves a round of applause, just not while you’re behind the wheel or holding onto the handlebars, please!

The Importance of Being a Logger

2010-08-24T15:12:00.002-04:00

Sometimes folks will tell us that they always take the bus or bicycle to work but that they don’t log their trips. Reasons vary, but usually we hear some variation of, “I don’t do it for a gift card, I do it for the environment.”

On the one hand, we’re thrilled that they’re doing something besides driving alone to work. On the other, those logged commutes are the only way we have of tracking how many people are participating in Smart Trips on any given day, what mode of transportation participants are using and where they’re going to and from.

The information is important for more than just the distribution of gift cards. The data collected may be used in grant applications or as a tool for helping to make decisions about allocating transportation resources. The logs also help determine how much pollution has been removed from the region’s air and how many vehicles have been removed from the roadways.

So the next time you’re going to make a clean commute, yes, do it for the environment. Then, please take a moment to log your trip. Do it for the gift card. And thank you.

What Would You Do for an iPod touch?

2010-08-17T14:43:00.002-04:00

Smart Trips is a truly fantastic program. It helps improve air quality and the health of area residents, eases traffic congestion and rewards participants who take part. C’mon, what’s not to like?

The problem is that Smart Trips is on a limited budget and we know we’re not reaching as many people as we could be, maybe even people who are already taking alternatives to driving alone. So what do we do? Offer incentives? Check. Hold contests and promotions? You betcha’. Bribe folks? Hey, wait a minute! But honestly, the reality is that we catch more flies, and by that we mean commuters, with honey.

With our What Would You Do for an iPod touch? contest, Smart Trips is offering up some mighty tasty honey in exchange for help drawing more commuters to the cause. On November 15th, we’ll be giving away an iPod touch to the Smart Tripper who can refer the most new registrants to Smart Trips during the months of September and October.

Read more about contest rules and eligibility, on our website at http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/. And GOOD LUCK!!

Your Mission – Should You Choose to Accept It

2010-08-11T08:44:00.000-04:00

Every so often here at Smart Trips we’ll get an email or phone call asking how one can log their commutes in a hybrid, or on a motorcycle -- and probably coming soon – electric vehicles. The short answer is, well, you can’t. It’s not as simple as you might think.

Don’t get us wrong, we understand the reason for the confusion. Motorcycles can get good gas mileage, but most don’t produce fewer emissions. (Some actually are as polluting as SUVs!) Hybrids produce fewer emissions and get better gas mileage; electric vehicles will produce no emissions (at least from the tailpipe, but consider how much pollution was emitted during the electricity generation). All three types of vehicles still take up space on the road and in parking garages. And after all, Smart Trips’ mission is to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion.

What to do? Well, carpooling is an option regardless of the type of automobile you drive. And carpooling in a hybrid or electric vehicle will ease traffic congestion and reduce even more emissions! Rather be on two wheels? Give bicycling a try. Or think about this: one bus removes the equivalent of about 40 vehicles from the highway.

And please know that however you choose to help the environment, Smart Trips applauds your efforts.

American Idle

2010-07-29T14:01:00.003-04:00

I have a confession to make. I buy fast food and use the drive thru. And, now for the worst part, please don't hate me - in the past I have let the engine idle while in line. Unfortunately, I am not alone.

Thirty-one states have passed anti-idling laws, Tennessee is not among them. It seems that anti-idling measures can lead to some pretty heated debate. No one denies that an idling, gasoline-powered engine spews out harmful pollutants, or that idling causes wear and tear on a vehicle.

No, the matter of contention seems to be whether it is better for the life of a vehicle to be stopped and restarted x amount of times versus idling for x amount of time. What about the lives of the residents of a community? Or the health of a local economy? Don't these trump possibly having to replace a starter? Speaking of which, every source I have turned to states emphatically that stopping and restarting the engine, does no more, and probably does less damage than idling.

But even if that weren't the case, is the quality of human life really less important than a car part? Or have we become so enamored of convenience that nothing else really matters? I'm afraid to hear the answer to that.

So the next time I have to have my particular poison, I'll be parking and walking inside to get it. And who knows, maybe after a few times, I won't feel like stopping at all.

Eat Your Broccoli, Don't Drive Alone

2010-07-21T15:53:00.003-04:00

The concept seems simple enough - encourage folks to choose an alternative to driving alone. Why? Because air pollution is bad for people and in our region air pollution is higher than it ought to be. Keep in mind that there is money to be saved and prizes to be had by making this choice. It seems odd that people aren't beating down our doors every day clamoring to join Smart Trips. I mean, we're talking about FREE stuff.

Could it be that we so hate anything that is supposedly good for us that even FREE gift cards cannot entice us to change our ways. Is driving alone one of life's last guilty pleasures? How many commuters are out there who recycle and buy local foods and use cloth shopping bags but still hop into a car, alone, for their daily commute?

So, after pondering this for several months, here's what we've come up with. Could you commit to ONE day of alternative transportation? Just one day. Friday, August 20th, 2010 will be Knoxville's first ever Clean Commute Day. Our goal is to have 10,000 or more people commuting to work by bicyle, carpool, the bus or on foot on that day. Amazingly, if we reach our goal more than 200,000 pounds of pollution can be reduced from the air on that one day, something that normally takes about 2 months in our area. To participate just complete our quick survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CleanCommuteDay.

And we're hoping that if you try it just once, that just like broccoli, you'll realize it's not that bad.

Downtown Knoxville Goes Car-free by 2011

2010-04-01T13:34:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why the City doesn't have this on their website yet, but I'm sure it will be posted soon.

For release April 1, 2010

Knoxville – It’s official. Downtown Knoxville will soon be a car free zone. Officials with Smart Trips announced today that Knoxville will become car free as of April 1, 2011. “We’re beyond thrilled,” said Kelley Segars, Senior Transportation Planner and developer of the Knoxville region’s Smart Trips program. “It’s unbelievable!”

The new designation calls for Downtown Knoxville to go car free in stages initially reducing the use of automobiles by 50 percent over the next 6 months before reaching the goal of zero by April 1, 2011.

Car free commuters will still be able to use currently available green alternatives such as taking the bus, walking or bicycling to work or becoming a telecommuter as options for getting to work. A combination of driving to a park and ride lot and taking the bus or trolley into the downtown area will also still be another available option.

Those with questions about how the new designation may affect them should go to Smart Trips facebook page at www.facebook.com/knoxsmarttrips.

April fools!

Splat!

2010-03-30T14:01:00.004-04:00

Lily Segars telecommutes, and occasionally bike-pools with her mom. She's been

splatted!

Global Climate Change Impacts in U.S.

2009-07-14T15:06:00.002-04:00

"This web page will introduce and lead you through the content of the most comprehensive and authoritative report of its kind that summarizes the science and the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. It focuses on climate change impacts in different regions of the U.S. (see here for Southeast) and on various aspects of society and the economy such as energy, water, agriculture, and health."
Not to sound like the preview for the latest Michael Bay movie, but the report lists the following key issues in the Southeast:
Projected increases in air and water temperatures will cause heat-related stresses for people, plants, and animals.
Effects of increased heat include more heat-related illness; declines in forest growth and agricultural crop production due to the combined effects of heat stress and declining soil moisture; declines in cattle production; increased buckling of pavement and railways; and reduced oxygen levels in streams and lakes, leading to fish kills and declines in aquatic species diversity.
Decreased water availability is very likely to affect the region’s economy as well as its natural systems.
Sea-level rise and the likely increase in hurricane intensity and associated storm surge will be among the most serious consequences of climate change.
Ecological thresholds are likely to be crossed throughout the region, causing major disruptions to ecosystems and to the benefits they provide to people.
Quality of life will be affected by increasing heat stress, water scarcity, severe weather events, and reduced availability of insurance for at-risk properties.

EPA grant to TDOT will reduce idling at TN truck stops

2009-06-30T16:06:00.000-04:00

Governor Bredesen Announces EPA Recovery Act Grant Award to Tennessee
Grant Will Fund Efforts to “Electrify” Truck Stops Across Tennessee

NASHVILLE – Governor Bredesen announced today that the Environmental Protection Agency has selected the Tennessee Department of Transportation to receive a $2 million American Reinvestment and Recovery Act discretionary grant to begin equipping truck stops across the state with truck stop electrification (TSE) technology. Truck stop electrification systems provide heating and cooling for sleeper cab compartments and power to run electrical appliances, such as computers and microwaves. TSE systems also allow trucks outfitted with on-board equipment to "plug in" to operate necessary systems without idling the engine.

“To help improve highway safety, truck drivers are required to rest for 10 hours after driving 11 hours, and trucks idling for extended periods impact air quality and can be costly for their drivers,” said Bredesen. “The electrification infrastructure that will be installed through this Recovery Act grant will allow truck drivers across Tennessee to reduce diesel emissions, save money and remain comfortable when resting.”

The project titled, “Reducing Idling Emissions from Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks: Tennessee's Green Corridor Approach to Truck Stop Electrification,” was one of 99 projects in the southeast submitted to EPA for Recovery Act discretionary grant funds to improve air quality. The project will also save trucking companies the cost of fuel that would be used when idling. The EPA estimates that annual fuel savings could exceed $3,240 per truck parking space.

"This grant is a great investment in environmental protection and will provide long-term economic benefits for Tennessee," said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta. "This funding will go a long way in helping to bolster the economy and protect public health and the environment by creating green jobs that improve air quality."

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that approximately 5,000 truck stops in the United States offer parking and other services, including fueling stations, restaurants, stores, and showers. The Recovery Act grant award will allow TDOT to solicit competitive grant applications from truck stop companies to purchase and install TSE technology at truck parking spaces at 6-10 truck stops along Tennessee’s interstate corridors.

“Avoiding unnecessary engine idling is a simple, practical way to protect air quality, especially for large diesel trucks, because it saves fuel and money, and reduces harmful emissions,” said TDOT Commissioner Nicely. “This project is another step toward achieving cleaner transportation in Tennessee, and we look forward to partnering with truck stops across the state to provide truckers with another practical option to reduce engine idling and save money.”

To prepare their applications, truck stops will seek bids from TSE technology vendors. Truck stops may request up to 100 percent funding, although adding match dollars will strengthen their application. Grant selection criteria will include the truck stop’s proximity to areas with large volumes of diesel trucks, cost-effectiveness in terms of average cost per TSE parking space, the match (if any) provided by the company, amenities offered by the truck stop to attract truckers, the quality of the truck stop marketing plan, willingness to establish idle-free zones at the truck stop, and ease of access from the interstate.

The request for truck stop applications will be published in early July and will allow about 60 days for the preparation of applications. Information on the program will be posted on the TDOT website at www.Tennessee.gov/tdot/recovery.

Smart Trips in the news

2009-06-30T10:56:00.001-04:00

Green Commutes Growing in June 30 Knoxville News Sentinel business section

New EPA data shows cancer risk linked to local air quality

2009-06-25T11:57:00.003-04:00

From the "wah-wah" file:
Map of counties with extra cancer deaths per million residents related to air quality\
The full story at NPR

Where The Streets Have No Cars

2009-06-25T09:17:00.004-04:00

Some communities are implementing car-free zones on certain days of the week to encourage pedestrian and cycling traffic. Read a bit more here
and at:
Ciclovia, Car-Free Planning, Summer Streets NYC, World Car-Free.Net, and Sunday Streets San Francisco

The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009

2009-06-19T16:08:00.002-04:00

http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/SurfaceTransportationSummary.pdf

Thanks to Ellen Zavisca for sharing this excerpt:

Improve Livability and Environmental Sustainability of Communities

Providing transportation choices and creating livable communities is essential to improving mobility for all users and ensuring that the transportation system enhances our quality of life. Expanding access to sustainable modes of transportation, and incorporating long-term mobility needs into the community planning process will yield significant benefits for public health and the environment.

To provide national leadership for the creation of livable communities and the developmentof sustainable transportation choices, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act creates an Office of Livability within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of DOT.

The Office of Livability will establish a focal point within FHWA to advance environmentally sustainable modes of transportation, including transit, walking, and bicycling. This Office will encourage integrated planning, linking land use and transportation planning, to support the creation of livable communities. To ensure that roadways are built with the needs of all users in mind, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act requires that States and metropolitan regions consider comprehensive street design principles. Comprehensive street design takes into account the needs of all users, including motorists, motorcyclists, transit riders, cyclists, pedestrians, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. Comprehensive street design principles are not prescriptive,do not mandate any particular design elements, and result in greatly varied facilities depending on the specific needs of the community in which they are located.

The Surface Transportation Authorization Act transforms the current transportation
planning process by linking transportation planning with greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with DOT, will establish national transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. DOT, under the existing transportation planning process, will require States and metropolitan regions to develop surface transportation-related greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and incorporate strategies to meet these targets into their transportation plans. DOT, through performance measures, will verify that States and metropolitan areas achieve progress towards national transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction
goals.

CAC's Volunteer Assisted Transportation

2009-06-19T16:04:00.002-04:00

This from Warren Secrest at CAC's Office on Aging:
VOLUNTEER ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION - Provides accessible and affordable transportation to Knox County seniors and persons with disabilities who require assistance to travel safely. Transportation is provided by screened and trained volunteer drivers in agency-owned vehicles. Volunteers provide reasonable, non-medical assistance to riders throughout their trips. Riders may request transportation and assistance to medical appointments, shopping, essential errands, as well as social and recreational trips. Ride availability is based on volunteer driver availiability. In-county fare: $3.00 one-way or $6.00 roundtrip. Out of county fares will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Sliding scale fares availiable. Donations accepted. Application required to determine rider eligibility.

Warren Secrest
CAC Office on Aging
Volunteer Assisted Transportation
2247 Western Avenue
P.O. Box 51650
Knoxville, TN 37950-1650
ph 865-524-2786
fx 865-546-0832
warren.secrest@knoxcac.org
"CAC: Helping People. Changing Lives."
www.knoxcac.org

Senate Passes "Cash for Clunkers" Program

2009-06-19T14:48:00.000-04:00

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1008/senate-passes-cash-for-clunkers-program/;_ylt=Ahvof754Est5hqlMTza1TjZ0fNdF

Lots of info for those with extra time

2009-06-19T14:24:00.004-04:00

Here are some great alternative transportation sites, courtesy of transalt.org (some are location-specific, but could provide ideas for future Smart Trips initiatives if you're interested). If you follow the link, it will lead to sites which I'll be perusing to share interesting nuggets here as time allows. Feel free to discuss, share, suggest, get excited, what have you.

United We Serve

2009-06-19T14:14:00.002-04:00

I attended a meeting today about Obama's "United We Serve" campaign, which is currently gaining traction in Knox County with non-profits and grassroots groups connecting with volunteers interested in coordinating their own service projects or supporting those already in existence.
http://www.knoxcounty.org/current09/united_serve.php
The campaign will run from June 22 through September 11, 2009, and the four focus areas are: promoting clean energy, energy efficiency and public land restoration; supporting education and literacy for all Americans; increasing health care access, public health awareness and prevention; and providing community renewal to areas hardest hit by the economic crisis.
The meeting this morning at United Way, the agency coordinating the local committee, brought together 70 or so local government, nonprofit and service groups to brainstorm a plan for our community, which is a model county for the program nationwide. Some ideas that were mentioned included: planting community gardens, assisting with clean-up of blighted properties, identifying county-owned properties that could be converted into community gardens or public space and assisting with clean-up to meet codes, reading to children, mentoring and tutoring, organizing bike trains and walking school buses for elementary school students in your neighborhood, planting trees, a "Share the Health" day on Market Square Sept. 11, conducting audits of your home's energy use on the KUB website, donating books, bikes and seeds to benefit the three focus areas, working with seniors to promote health and exercise... it was a great brainstorming session with lots of neat ideas.
Visit http://www.serve.gov/ for more information, to create a project, find a volunteer opportunity or lend your support and ideas.

City of Knoxville energy efficiency and conservation plans

2009-06-17T15:09:00.000-04:00

City to Establish Curbside Recycling Program
June 17, 2009 - The City of Knoxville will use part of a $2.012 million federal stimulus grant to try and establish a single-stream, curbside recycling program for residents.

In addition to the recycling effort the city wants to use funds from the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program – part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – to support seven different energy and conservation related initiatives. The U.S. Department of Energy is managing the block grants...

Read more: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2009/0617b.asp

Vehicle Miles Traveled: Where we stand (still in traffic)

2009-06-15T14:32:00.001-04:00

In case you're like me and can't read the following text, Knoxville ranks 13 per capita and 64th nationally in Vehicle Miles Traveled, according to this December 2008study by the Brookings Institute:
Brookings VMT Cities Ranking Brookings VMT Cities Ranking jlhughes Appendix A. 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas Based on 2005 Employment, Ranked by VMT per Capita on Principal ArterialsThe Road…Less Traveled:An Analysis of Vehicle MilesTraveled Trends in the U.S.

Publish at Scribd or explore others: School Work Business & Economics Magazines & Newspape culture rank

Commuter Challenge drawing to a close

2009-06-10T17:12:00.002-04:00

Please remember to log your commutes by June 12 to be eligible for the Commuter Challenge grand finale drawing June 15. The Challenge coincided with the SmartFix40 interstate construction, and since its May 2008 inception, thousands of dollars in monthly and quarterly gift cards have been distributed to Smart Trips participants who have logged 5 days of alternative commutes each month.
On June 15, the lucky winners of our grand prizes will be announced, with prizes including:
10 iPod Shuffles
6 iPod Touch
6 Nintendo Wii
and one $1500 AAA travel package!
Stay tuned and good luck!!

Smart Trips Month winners gather at luncheon

2009-06-10T17:09:00.001-04:00

Winners of the Smart Trips Month awards gathered June 10 at the Square Room on Market Square for an awards luncheon. Displaying their certificates of recognition are (from left): Elizabeth Eason Architect employees Matthew Kellogg, Monika Miller, Andrew Godwin and Elizabeth Eason (winners of the Small Business Challenge with highest participation by a small business during Smart Trips Month); Chris Barrett (winner of the Wheel to Reel video contest); Jeremy Chandler (Go Getter award recipient as a runner-up for Longest Bicycle Commute, Most Diverse Commute and overall support of the program); Jim Smith (Longest Bicycle Commute, with an approximate round trip of 50 miles); recipients of the Most People in a Carpool award Alan Sims, Jessica Humphrey, Janie Shanafield and Kevin Webb; TVA employee Regina Mackay (accepting the Large Business award for TVA with the highest number of new registrants during Smart Trips Month); and Carlos Yunsan (recipient of the Most Diverse Commute for combining carpooling, transit and walking each day on his route to work). Not pictured: Paul Clouse, winner of the Wheel to Reel video contest; Lisa Webb, member of the Most People in a Carpool; Adam Dattillo, Go Getter; and Charles Weber, tied for the Longest Bicycle Commute.

Air Quality Days

2009-06-10T17:03:00.006-04:00

Don't forget KAT is offering free bus rides on air quality action days this summer.

Sign up for the Weather Alerts from WBIR and get notified automatically when there is an Air Quality Alert day of Orange or higher!
To sign up, just go to the WBIR Text Alerts sign-up page, enter your information and select either the "Severe Weather Alert" for Knox County or the "Daily Weather Forecast."

More on our air quality here from Knox County:
http://www.knoxcounty.org/current09/air_alert.php
First Knoxville Air Alert Issued in 2009
Posted: June 3, 2009
The first air quality alert for the Knoxville valley and Great Smoky Mountains was issued for June 1st. This alert came a month later than last year, in spite of new ozone standards that went in effect in 2008. The revised standards are based on new scientific evidence and are more protective of human health. The alerts are issued much as a weather forecast in that conditions such that poor air quality may result. Thirty-two alerts were issued last year between April 1st and mid-September, though not all resulted in poor air quality days. The Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow website http://airnow.gov/ provides current air quality conditions and forecasts.

Following are steps you can take to reduce air pollution:

Car pool or use public transportation (KAT is free on air alert days
Limit engine idling, skip the drive thru
Combine errands
Conserve energy by turning off unneeded appliances/lights
Cut back air conditioning
Postpone lawn mowing and filling of gas tanks until evening
No open burning
Take your lunch or walk to a nearby restaurant

New KAT buses and future plans

2009-06-10T16:51:00.004-04:00

I attended the KAT press conference yesterday that unveiled the look of the new shiny buses and announced details of upcoming changes, including proposed route changes to accompany the 2010 transit center opening and helpful new GPS systems.
More info is here... http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2009/0609c.asp
Any thoughts?

Fun bus stops around the world

2009-05-27T11:23:00.003-04:00

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/05/01/15-unusual-and-creative-bus-stops/

Bus stops of the future?

2009-05-27T09:59:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Emily Murphy for this:
http://senseable.mit.edu/eyestop/
from MIT news:
Riders can plan a bus trip on an interactive map, surf the Web, monitor their real-time exposure to pollutants and use their mobile devices as an interface with the bus shelter. They can also post ads and community announcements to an electronic bulletin board at the bus stop, enhancing the EyeStop's functionality as a community. “The EyeStop could change the whole experience of urban travel," said Carlo Ratti, Head of the SENSEable City Lab at MIT. "At the touch of a finger, passengers can get the shortest bus route to their destination or the position of all the buses in the city. The EyeStop will also glow at different levels of intensity to signal the distance of an approaching bus."
In addition to displaying information, the bus stop also acts as an active environmental sensing node, powering itself through sunlight and collecting real-time information about the surrounding environment. “EyeStop is like an 'info-tape' that snakes through the city," said project leader Giovanni de Niederhousern. "It senses information about the environment and distributes it in a form accessible to all citizens.”

One more for the road

2009-05-22T12:34:00.003-04:00

While I'm at it, I'll mention that now that Smart Trips Month planning is behind me, I hope to start posting relevant meetings, updates, and alternative transporation links and info locally, regionally and globally here on a regular basis. So check back often and keep me on my toes.

Metro Pulse highlights Knoxville cycling!

2009-05-22T12:31:00.001-04:00

Our very own Kelley Segars is featured in this week's Metro Pulse bike extravaganza issue. Check it all out at http://www.metropulse.com/knoxville-bicycle-guide/

Fit in a Fit photos

2009-05-22T12:25:00.001-04:00

Home Federal Bank enjoyed their Tomato Head pizza party May 21 to celebrate the team's repeat victory at the May 8 How Many Can You Fit in a Fit event on Market Square. Check out the photos of their team and the MPC, TVA and KUB teams at http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/stmonth/2009/fit_pix.htm
We've received the second submission in the Wheel to Reel video contest and they're both pretty awesome. See them online at http://www.youtube.com/group/smarttripswheeltoree and upload your 2-minute video! All submissions will air on CTV to promote Smart Trips and will be screened at the Smart Trips Award Luncheon June 9 at Cafe 4. Prizes will be awarded!
Thanks and enjoy this lovely Memorial Day weekend with a family bike ride or walk along the greenways.

Wheel to Reel Contest is taking off!

2009-05-15T14:29:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/group/smarttripswheeltoree

Bike to Work Day 2009 Knoxville

2009-05-15T12:42:00.003-04:00

http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/stmonth/2009/btw_pix.htm

Fit in the Fit

2009-05-12T12:49:00.001-04:00

Click to Play

The TVA team un-squeezes from the car.

Hidden Knoxville Walk Re-do!

2009-05-08T14:05:00.000-04:00

Hidden Knoxville Walk rescheduled for 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 12
We were rained out on Wednesday, but here's your second chance to join Jack Neely, Secret History columnist for MetroPulse, on the Hidden Knoxville Walk. We'll go to Mechanicsville, Knoxville College, the Warehouse District and other interesting spots that are all within walking distance of downtown, even if the way to get there may not be obvious. We’ll meet at the future site of downtown Knoxville’s dog park, the intersection of Summit Hill and Central Avenue.

Task Force report on Knoxville energy usage and waste reduction

2009-04-24T10:51:00.000-04:00

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/apr/24/report-shows-knoxvillians-too-trashy/

Together! Healthy Knox

2009-04-13T09:00:00.002-04:00

The community-wide launch of Together! Healthy Knox will be today, April 13, in conjunction with a three-part, consecutive-day series about health in Knox County on the Knoxville News Sentinel, which began Sunday, April 12th.

What are the major health concerns in your neighborhood? What needs to happen to improve health and quality of life in Knox County? Through Together! Healthy Knox, your answers to these questions will be an important piece in creating a community-wide plan for better health. Knox County Health Department is launching Together! Healthy Knox and anyone who lives, works, worships or plays in Knox County can take part. The ultimate goal is to achieve a community in which every person is a healthy person.

To get started on this path to better health for our community, we invite you to visit www.healthyknox.org to take the Together! Healthy Knox survey. While you browse the site, you can also sign up for a focus group or participate in a discussion board. Your input and opinions are key to helping identify the top health issues in Knox County because, in the coming months, a community-wide partnership will be formed to develop an action plan to make a lasting and positive impact on the health priorities you help identify.

No single person or agency can make a community healthy. It will take us all working together! Your participation is important to the success of Together! Healthy Knox. Visit www.healthyknox.org or call 215-5549 for more information, to provide your input, and to get involved in this community approach to better health.

Remember, there are two ways to participate:
Take the Knox County Health & Quality of Life Survey at www.healthyknox.org/survey
Sign up to attend one of the upcoming Health & Quality of Life Focus Groups. Find one that fits your schedule at www.healthyknox.org/focus_groups.html. Participants must pre-register by calling 215-5160 or 215-5180. Space is limited.

Please participate. All our voices matter.
Visit the website, www.healthyknox.org, for more information.

From the Metro Pulse: Bicycles vs. Cars on Knoxville Roads

2009-04-13T08:58:00.002-04:00

Interesting article from Jack Neely on sharing the road:
http://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/07/bicycles-vs-cars-knoxville-roads/

Try Transit

2009-03-30T16:57:00.002-04:00

Try Transit during Smart Trips Month in May and share your experiences in a 1,500 word or less essay for a chance to win a $50 gift card. For details, visit our website.
Need inspiration? Read "The Last Bus Home" here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/opinion/29purves.html?scp=1&sq=last%20bus%20home&st=cse

Vote for Smart Trips through April 7

2009-03-30T15:29:00.001-04:00

Thanks to your support, we are now a finalist in the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters' Changing Climate Change competition! Please visit http://www.justmeans.com/competitionidea/10374/promoteidea.html through April 7 and vote for us to increase our chances of winning a $200,000 grant to expand our program. Spread the word!

Knox County Health Department's A Walk in the Park

2009-03-27T11:45:00.002-04:00

Smart Trips will have a table - come by and say hi!

Event: A Walk in the Park, National Public Health Week

Purpose: To provide a fun event for the community that encourages healthy behaviors and highlights community resources.

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane, Knoxville,

http://www.knoxcounty.org/parks/harvest_park.php

Wheel to Reel Contest - unleash your inner Scorsese

2009-03-24T15:27:00.000-04:00

WHEEL TO REEL CONTEST
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Smart Trips invites you to show your work and your support for our program as part of Smart Trips Month this May – create and submit a short digital film inspired by our mission to improve our region’s air quality and quality of life by promoting alternatives to driving alone. Your work will not only be featured on our website and on CTV, but could also be used by Smart Trips in future marketing and awareness campaigns – the winning film will be screened at a Smart Trips award ceremony in June!

Smart Trips Month is held every May and includes a series of educational, fun and health-promoting events throughout the area. Throughout the month, digital shorts will air on CTV and be linked to our website to raise awareness about the importance of improving our air quality by using alternative modes of transportation. This is where you come in!

Create a digital short that is 2 minutes or less – get creative! Any genre is welcome, from animation to documentary and everything in between. The content should be inspired by our goal of improving air quality and the quality of life in our community through promoting alternatives to driving alone. Submissions may be used in the future promotion of our program through marketing and public awareness campaigns.

Shorts must be uploaded to Google Video with KnoxSmartTrips in the title and submitted on DVD to Smart Trips, c/o KRTPO, Suite 403, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 by May 15.

Any questions? Call or email Elizabeth Wright at 215-2916 or smarttrips@knoxtrans.org

Seeking local artists!

2009-03-24T13:43:00.000-04:00

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Smart Trips invites you to show your work and your support for our program at an event Friday, May 1 that will be part of Knoxville’s First Friday art walk – your work could be used by Smart Trips in future marketing and awareness campaigns and the winner will receive a $200 grand prize!

Smart Trips Month is held every May and includes a series of educational, fun and health-promoting events throughout the area. We have partnered with KAT to host a First Friday Art Bus – the public will be invited to board the bus, learn about public transit and view local art inspired by transportation and commuting issues. This is where you come in!

Create a work of art that can be displayed in a KAT bus on Friday, May 1, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The work should be inspired by our goal of improving air quality and the quality of life in our community through promoting alternatives to driving alone. Submissions may be used in the future promotion of our program through marketing and public awareness campaigns.
Artists who submit work should be available Friday, May 1, at 4 p.m. to display their work and should be available again at 8 p.m. to retrieve their work. All artists are also invited to join us throughout the event as we meet the public, appreciate your artwork and promote alternatives to driving alone.
A jpeg photograph of the finished product must be emailed to smarttrips@knoxtrans.org by Monday, April 20 at 5 p.m. You will then be notified by email to confirm your appearance at our First Friday Art Bus event.
Questions? Call Elizabeth Wright at 215-2916 or email smarttrips@knoxtrans.org
Thanks for your support and creativity – we look forward to working with you!

Vote for Smart Trips!

2009-03-18T16:20:00.002-04:00

You can support funding that would allow us to expand our program by visiting the following website and voting for Smart Trips:
http://www.justmeans.com/competitionidea/10374/promoteidea.html
This is a spam-free site, but you will be required to provide your email address and a password to vote. Thanks for your help and feel free to pass the link along!

Smoggy skies and respiratory disease

2009-03-18T16:18:00.001-04:00

A bit depressing, but definite motivation to take more Smart Trips:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101694787

Sec. of Transportation LaHood discusses livable communities and cycling

2009-03-18T16:17:00.001-04:00

http://fastlane.dot.gov/

Upcoming Opportunities with Smart Trips

2009-03-04T15:07:00.002-05:00

We're gearing up for Smart Trips Month in May and there are many ways you can get involved:

- Unleash your inner director/actor/stuntperson!
Make a short movie, video or documentary about your commute and submit it as an entry in our Wheels and Reels video contest! The possibilities are endless, but keep it under two minutes! More details to follow on submission rules, deadlines and prizes...

- Be a bike guide!
Smart Trips will attend the Oak Ridge Earth Day April 25 at Bissell Park (http://www.orearthday.org/pages/index.html) and we're helping the organizers, East Tennessee Earth Alliance, make the event as car-free as possible. If you're familiar with Oak Ridge bike routes and would like to lead guided bike routes to the festival or if you plan to attend the festival from Knoxville and would be willing to carpool, please contact Elizabeth Wright at 215-2916 or smarttrips@knoxtrans.org.

- Give us feedback!
The Bicycle Advisory Committee would like bicyclists to review our five bike routes in Knoxville: http://www.knoxtrans.org/plans/bikeprog/resource.htm#routes
When you ride a route, think about these questions:--is this the best route, or are there other roads that would be better?--are there problems that could be easily fixed along the way (e.g., drain grate higher or lower than pavement, pothole)--what sections do you feel uncomfortable on, but know that it's better than the alternatives?
We are hoping to get signage on these routes, but wanted to make sure they are the best they can be first! Once you've ridden a route and have input, send it to kelley.segars@knoxtrans.org Please include the day of the week and time of day that you rode. We'd like to get this information ASAP.

- Join our Facebook group!
Visit http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=130987700079&success#/group.php?gid=130987700079 and select "Join this Group" to meet other Smart Trippers, discuss commutes and routes and share commuting-related events and news.

- Don't hesitate to nominate!
We're always seeking Commuters of the Month. The competition is heavy, but the winner gets a $25 gift card! Recognize the most enthusiastic Smart Tripper you know by submitting a nomination to smarttrips@knoxtrans.org.

- Spread the word!
Know someone or a company you think would benefit from joining Smart Trips? Encourage them to visit our website, call or email to receive more information and get signed up as a participant.

- Keep up the good work!
Our participant numbers and logged commutes just keep going up and up! In the last year alone, Smart Trippers have reduced almost 1,500,000 vehicle miles traveled and have prevented more than 1 million pounds of CO2 emissions from entering our environment.

A bit belated, but we must mention the January Commuter of the Month!

2009-03-04T14:55:00.002-05:00

Sandra Hubbard was named the January Commuter of the Month after we heard from several of Sandra's co-workers at the Crowne Plaza Hotel telling us what a committed transit commuter she is. She takes the bus to work every day, and is always encouraging the folks she works with to take the bus or try carpooling.
We asked Sandra what she enjoys about her commute, and why she chooses to take the bus to work every day. She tells us, "I really love walking to work in the mornings (from the bus). The view from the bridge is so beautiful and that's when I prepare myself for my day. Not having to be stuck in traffic or worry about cars in front of me or anything. It's very relaxing. Everyone at KAT treats their passengers with respect and courtesy. They go out of their way to help us to get where we're going. I don't think people realize how easy it is to be a commuter or to even try. I love Knoxville, my hometown, and I would love for us to fix some of the air quality issues we have here. With just a little effort, we could make a difference."
We agree with Sandra on that one. Thanks for being such a wonderful ambassador for the Smart Trips program. To say thanks, we mailed Sandra a $25 gift card to Regal Cinemas.

Want to nominate someone for commuter of month?
Please send your nomination to Smart Trips . Include your name and contact information, the commuter's name, and why you think your nominee should be the Smart Trips Commuter of the Month. You can nominate as many people as you would like, and we'll send you a small token of our appreciation for sending us your nominations. The winner of the Commuter of the Month contest will receive a $25 gift card from Smart Trips. (Please note, to be eligible to win, all nominees must be participating Smart Trips members.)

And December's Commuter of the Month is...

2008-12-19T14:55:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to our December Commuter of the Month...Bill Gurley! Bill is a long-time rider of the Halls Express bus, and he was nominated by two of his fellow KAT commuters who thought he deserved to be recognized for enthusiastically promoting transit to his neighbors in Halls and Fountain City as well as his co-workers at U.T.

Gail Chapman sent us an email telling us about a web site Bill had created to help spread the word about the Hall Express to folks that work downtown, U.T. and TVA. (Good stuff!) And fellow rider Doug Brown tells us, "This gentleman lives and breathes conservation in all avenues from home refuse through travel. He travels the KAT Halls Express. A helpful, kindred spirit with no hate towards anyone. Almost reminds me of the hippy days of the 60's. He even has a short beard. To overlook him would be a shame indeed." Well, that's when we knew we had a winner.We asked Bill to tell us a little about his commute, and how he came to be such a staunch supporter of transit. Bill told us, "I've been working at UT for 24 years. Over the years, I had considered trying out riding the bus several times, but didn't get around to it until about three years ago. Now I feel really stupid that I waited so long! The commuters who ride the Halls Express are a diverse and really friendly group of people. We all enjoy, at various times, talking, reading, listening to music, and just relaxing, while commuting to and from work. My initial motivation for riding the bus was my own environmental concern. I would like to see mass transit grow in our area; I would love to see more people choose transit over "riding alone." But now that I have jumped into transit, I have realized the joy of not fighting the traffic on my own, so there are selfish reasons for riding the bus too!"As most people know by now, the KAT Express routes were threatened with extinction last year. The riders of the Halls Express organized ourselves with a Google Groups list and began a campaign of contacting public officials and media outlets to try to reverse the decision to eliminate express routes. Farragut and Cedar Bluff folks also joined in, and eventually we were able to save our routes. All of the Halls riders are great ambassadors for transit!"
We're glad to have such enthusiastic Smart Trip members like Bill, and congratulate him as our Commuter of the Month! We'll be happily sending him a $25 gift card to Mast General Store to say thanks.

Some nice words from one of our Commuter Challenge winners...

2008-12-12T15:47:00.000-05:00

We now have 5 people in our carpool and I have really been enjoying the camaraderie. Since different people are riding and driving every day, it's difficult to keep track of who owes who a ride. I invented a system where each rider gives the driver one of his business cards whenever he rides. When the rider drives, he gets his cards back from whoever has driven for him before, or else they give him one of their cards. So far it's worked very well.
Considering the money I've saved on gas, the new friends I've made, not to mention the nice prizes you offer, it's well worth the small inconvenience of working to a more rigid schedule.
--Bill Schwenterly

Our November Commuter of the Month (and his carpool posse!)

2008-11-24T12:23:00.003-05:00

Congratulations, and many thanks to Alan Sims for being such a committed carpool advocate. We think this is one fine looking carpool, too!

Throwing the trappings of modern transportation...

2008-07-02T13:10:00.000-04:00

I must have heard a thousand birds...
Riding the bike, traveling slower and more in tune than in the car
No longer listening to the sounds of talk radio
Nor the notes of corporate music that all sound the same
None of the traffic and noise of large semis barreling down the highway
Instead, I notice that I hear the sound of a thousand birds.
The ride takes twice as long as to drive
But the pleasure is many times greater
I pedal through neighborhoods, watching the squirrels
Enjoying them playing and chattering, running from yard to yard
Tree to tree, power line to power line
And still, the sound of a thousand birds
There were cardinals, blue jays, mockingbirds, mocking them all
Two robins danced the mating ritual on the deserted stretch of road
Two blackbirds fought, darting through the trees
One diving and attacking the other before the tables turn
And I still enjoy the sound of a thousand birds
The fragrance of blooming trees and flowers
The sound of quiet mornings, hearing my breathing as I climb the hill
To a view of the sun rising far on the horizon
Bathing the light blue to black sky with a crimson, orange-yellow hue
Listening to the sound of a thousand birds
The ride has ended as the work day begins
I'm tired but revitalized, having thrown the trappings of modern transportation
Relying on my own strengths to travel the journey
And as the journey is why we are here, why not enjoy
The sound of a thousand birds.
I think of the travels, how we need to slow down and be more aware
Enhancing our travels by being in tune with the world around us
In tune with those around us, with thoughts of love and friends
In tune with nature and the sounds we are so blessed to hear
The sound of a thousand birds.
As everyone asks how my ride was
I share the experiences, the sights, smells and sounds
And then I answer their question with a single sentence...

Belated congratulations to Home Federal Bank

2008-05-30T14:13:00.005-04:00

Belated congratulations go out to Home Federal Bank, winners of the "How Many Can You Fit in a Fit" contest on May 8, 2008. They successfully squeezed 23 people into a Honda Fit during the event on Market Squaure. Photos of all competing teams can be viewed on the Smart Trips website at http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/fitinfit.htm.

Smart Trips in the news!

2008-05-30T14:13:00.003-04:00

WATE video on Mast General's program encouraging employees to use alternative transportation:
http://www.wate.com/Global/category.asp?C=21819&nav=menu7_2_1

News Sentinel article:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/may/25/more-commuters-take-alternative-route/

excerpt:
During Lynn Harrison's morning commute a couple of weeks ago, a 20-mph headwind made the trip more difficult than usual. While the wind didn't seem to bother the cars flying past, it added an extra 10 minutes of pedaling to her ride to the Mast General Store in downtown Knoxville.

In response to rising gas prices, Harrison and others are parking their cars and finding other ways to get to work. They're also joining programs such as Smart Trips, a program of the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization that promotes alternatives to driving alone. The program is sponsoring "Commuter Bucks," which rewards prizes to those who can show they've used alternative transportation to get to work.

Last year 392 people signed up to take part in Smart Trips, said Tina Rolen, program coordinator. This year 564 people are participating.

CNN.com looking for commute stories

2008-05-29T08:23:00.000-04:00

"Do you fight your way through traffic each morning, even with gas prices surging to record levels? Do you bike to work, or use public transit? We want to see the sights and sounds of how you get to work. Document your daily travel schedule. (Drivers, please be careful not to distract yourself behind the wheel.) If you have a unique way of getting to work, please tell us about it. Send photos, video and audio to share the story of your commute."

http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=27556

Gas-saving tips

2008-05-28T13:43:00.004-04:00

Seen on Gay St in downtown Knoxville...we especially like Tip #5!

Biking to Work

2008-05-07T16:13:00.000-04:00

I have been riding my bike to work everyday since the beginning of the year and I love it. It's great to get a little exercise right before and after sitting at a desk for eight hours a day. I occasionally run into people I know during my commute, and because I'm not in a car I can stop and talk. It's a much less isolating way to travel. It's also a great way to learn just how nasty automobiles really are - you don't know how gross your exhaust is until you spend a few stop-and-go miles behind someone driving a car.

Obsessed with KAT!

2008-05-07T16:02:00.003-04:00

I work at the UT Conference Center downtown. My husband, who worked on campus, used to drop me off in the morning and pick me up in the afternoon, paying the $28.00 monthly parking fee. However, he decided to retire in 2005, which left me on my own. Faced with $45.00 monthly parking garage fees, and those ridiculous gas prices, I decided to give KAT another try. I knew that KAT gave UT employees a generous discount on ride passes for the bus; I was delighted to find out just how much I saved. I can catch the 23-Fairmont/Millertown Pike bus less than two blocks from my house, and get off directly in front of my office building on Locust Street.

I’ve been riding ever since, and have become KAT's biggest fan. My husband says I’m obsessed, and maybe I am. I talk about it whenever anyone will listen. I feel so virtuous, walking past my gas-guzzling Buick Century in the early-morning dawn, and knowing I’m saving not only parking fees, but wear and tear on the car, gas money, AND the actual price of a bus ticket! Plus, I’m getting a little well-needed exercise. The entire year costs me about the same amount as two months parking garage. Who wouldn’t choose this route? And with Smart Trips' Emergency Ride Home Program, my last concern about this venue was removed.

KAT drivers are courteous and thoughtful, and the busses are always clean and comfortable. I’ve made several new friends, who tend to see me off the bus in the morning laughing and well-prepared to face my day. I have never been late, and I get home a bit earlier than when I was riding with my husband (he tended to get side-tracked . . . but KAT is always there on time!).

Carpool Your Way to Health!

2008-05-07T16:01:00.000-04:00

I carpool with my friend to work and it’s great because, not only do we save gas and the environment but the rides pass by so much more quickly with the great company! We’ve also started going to the gym together at the same time so my carpool buddy has also become my workout buddy and a great friend! I feel healthier and happier all around! Thanks, Smart Trips!

Carpool Buddies

2008-05-07T16:00:00.002-04:00

I am now carpooling twice a week with a work colleague, and as we've talked during our commute, I've gained a new friend!

Why I Love My Commute!

2008-05-07T15:57:00.001-04:00

My first commute is a bus ride to campus. I typically take the #23, but if I am running late, I hop on the #22 Broadway or #31 Magnolia bus. I love riding KAT for several reasons. I avoid the stressful hunt for parking on campus, while at the same time saving money on both gas and parking. Most of all, I enjoy the company and conversations a ride on the KAT ensures.

My second commute is a four block walk to work. I love my short walk; it allows me time to reflect on the day ahead, or to meander and smell the flowers on the way home.

I lived all over Knoxville in attempt to shorten my daily commute. I initially started riding the #10 Cherokee Blvd. KAT to save my limited funds. Riding the bus became addictive for me; the Route 10 bus crew cemented my cost and earth saving habits with other loyal KAT riders. Before my last relocation, I frequented the all-around-town #90 and the graduate student bus of choice, the #50.

I believe in Environmentally Sustainable Transportation, which for me means finding a way to get to work, school and play without a causing a detriment to the environment, whether that be by bus, walk or bike ride. I love that very little of my budget turns into profits for oil companies. I love the sense of community and time for reflection I now have in place of my formerly stress-ridden solo drive. Most of all, I love doing my part to make the world a greener place. Thank you Smart Trips, for tracking my progress!

No parking hassles!

2008-05-07T15:56:00.000-04:00

I used to ride the bus to work 25 years ago when I lived in Fountain City. It was very convenient because the bus went by my house, and the people were very friendly. I was very sad when a new job took me across town and I could not ride any longer. We have since moved to the Gibbs area and I am working at UT. Although the bus does not come to Gibbs, I was thrilled to learn about the Halls Express. I have just a 10 minute drive to Halls in the morning and then I can relax and enjoy the ride. The bus drops me off right in front of my building and I don’t have to pay parking fees on campus. Once again the people are great. I love not having to deal with the traffic and the high gas prices. I figure I am saving at least $1,500 a year by riding the bus to work. We would love to see more people taking the Halls Express – even if it is just 3 days a week, think how much YOU would save.

Saving money!

2008-05-07T15:53:00.000-04:00

My wife and I have become a one-car couple. The main thing that has made that feasible for us is KAT. At various times, she drives me to the bus stop (5-minute trip), so she can have the car for the day for errands, shopping, doctor appointments (both hers and her mother's), etc.
Instead of dealing with rush-hour traffic for 25 minutes, I can "leave the driving to" KAT and get in some good reading during the commute.

In short, "smart tripping" has allowed me to eliminate one of our cars, reduce commuting costs, help the environment, reduce the hassle of commuting, and increase my reading time!

Great weight loss plan!

2008-05-07T15:52:00.001-04:00

I started my commute via bicycle in August '07. I rode through the winter with the exception of a couple of extremely cold days (25 degrees and under). I have lost 50 pounds and am really feeling great. I can't wait to get back on the road at the end of the workday. And the ride home is never in a rush so I really get to enjoy it!

Riding the bus and carpooling to Oak Ridge

2008-05-07T15:51:00.000-04:00

I've been riding KAT and carpooling from the Old City to Oak Ridge for about a year now and it's been great! I fill up my tank every other week instead of once a week and I only have to deal with traffic about once a week during my commute! The rest of the time someone else has the pleasure of navigating through the wonderful traffic snarls that can plague the lanes of I-40 on a frequent basis. It only takes a week or two to adjust to the new methods of commuting and with the Emergency Ride Home program, you're never stuck without a way home. It's great to be able to catch a nap or do a little reading during my commute and I don't get stressed out by driving anymore! I highly recommend that everyone at least try some form of alternative transportation and become better informed on what's the best way for you to reduce the stress and costs of your daily commute.

Biking to Work in Peace

2008-05-07T15:47:00.002-04:00

I ride my bike to work nearly every day. I really enjoy getting out on the Third Creek Greenway as I'm riding in each morning and going home each day. That's something I probably wouldn't have the chance to do if I were driving my car to work every day. The greenway is beautiful, peaceful, and quite serene even though it isn't that far from some major roads. Riding my bike has also allowed my wife and me to get along fine with just one vehicle, even with a child at home. That saves us thousands of dollars each year. It has also been a great way to keep in shape. I don't need to go to the gym - I get my excercise as a regular part of my day.