Hi all,
Smart Trips Austin is an active transportation program that encourages residents to walk, bike, carpool, and use public transit to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips in Austin, Texas, USA. The program is a partnership between the City of Austin and Capital Metro.
The Smart Trips Austin program has three primary objectives:
· Curb congestion by encouraging residents to explore the city sustainably
· Reduce single-occupant vehicle trips by 5%
· Increase active transportation trips by 5%
The program uses community-based initiatives to overcome barriers to sustainable transportation options. For example, they use learn-to-ride classes, transit instruction, walking tours, and community bike rides. They also offer transportation information and resources and provide one-on-one personalized support. Even their multi-modal transportation incentive toolkits were delivered in person through home visits in key neighborhoods.
In 2019, Austin City Council presented its Strategic Mobility Plan, which included a commitment that within two decades, half of Austin residents would commute to work without driving alone in a car. At that time, nearly 75% of car trips were drive-alone, while the goal was 50%. To stay true to this commitment, the City of Austin encouraged its own staff to use sustainable travel modes more often. It introduced a Smart Commute Rewards program for city staff that included giving employees time off for engaging in sustainable commutes. Remarkably, the drive-alone rate among staff soon fell by 12% (from 53% to 41%). Also in that same year, the city piloted an electric bike fleet for its staff, which later expanded.
Results? Smart Trips Austin managed a 5-10% decrease in drive-alone trips among participants and a corresponding 5-10% increase in active and shared trips.
For more information about this program, click on the Tools of Change website here.
Smart Trips Austin is an active transportation program that encourages residents to walk, bike, carpool, and use public transit to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips in Austin, Texas, USA. The program is a partnership between the City of Austin and Capital Metro.
The Smart Trips Austin program has three primary objectives:
· Curb congestion by encouraging residents to explore the city sustainably
· Reduce single-occupant vehicle trips by 5%
· Increase active transportation trips by 5%
The program uses community-based initiatives to overcome barriers to sustainable transportation options. For example, they use learn-to-ride classes, transit instruction, walking tours, and community bike rides. They also offer transportation information and resources and provide one-on-one personalized support. Even their multi-modal transportation incentive toolkits were delivered in person through home visits in key neighborhoods.
In 2019, Austin City Council presented its Strategic Mobility Plan, which included a commitment that within two decades, half of Austin residents would commute to work without driving alone in a car. At that time, nearly 75% of car trips were drive-alone, while the goal was 50%. To stay true to this commitment, the City of Austin encouraged its own staff to use sustainable travel modes more often. It introduced a Smart Commute Rewards program for city staff that included giving employees time off for engaging in sustainable commutes. Remarkably, the drive-alone rate among staff soon fell by 12% (from 53% to 41%). Also in that same year, the city piloted an electric bike fleet for its staff, which later expanded.
Results? Smart Trips Austin managed a 5-10% decrease in drive-alone trips among participants and a corresponding 5-10% increase in active and shared trips.
For more information about this program, click on the Tools of Change website here.
