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/.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
4th Quarter 2010 Progress Report
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.
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.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Options in Ridesharing
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/.
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/.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Ins and Outs of Commuter Rewards
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.
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.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Future of Ridesharing?
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/.
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/.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tell Me About It
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.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
If It Was Easy
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Contests and Luncheons and Prizes, Oh My
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Commuter Challenge Results Announced
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.
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.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Much Ado About Smart Trips
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.
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/.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Eason Architecture Leads Commuter Challenge
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
So hop on the bus, Gus
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thank you, thank you and thank you!
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!
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!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Importance of Being a Logger
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
What Would You Do for an iPod touch?
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!!
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!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)