delivered by bike.
(Photo © J. Maus)
PDOT’s Transportation Options Division has announced that their “SmartTrips Southeast” program led to a 9.4% reduction in drive-alone trips in the target area.
The program — which uses individualized marketing techniques to encourage participants to walk, bike, and take transit — was focused on over 20,000 Southeast Portland (and Milwaukie) households.
Participating residents were subjected to an all-out blitz of outreach events, access to resources, and free gifts (including the wonky-yet-fashionable bicycle map bandanna!) to help inspire them to make more sensible transportation choices.
In addition to reducing drive-alone trips, SmartTrips also led to increased bicycle use. PDOT reported an increase in bicycle mode share among those over 55 years-old from 1% – 4% and, for the first time ever, a majority of the bicycle trips (58%) were made by women.
The SmartTrips program (formerly known at TravelSmart) is in its fifth year and the current focus area is Southwest Portland. Learn more about this year’s program at the SmartTrips Southwest website.