City’s ‘SmartTrips’ marketing program shifts focus

SmartTrips program manager Linda Ginenthal in 2006,surrounded by “doodads, goodies, prizes, swag.”(Photos by J.Maus/BikePortland) After 12 years of bike maps, blinking lights and walking tours, one of Portland’s most innovative transportation programs is shifting direction. Starting next week, the city’s residential SmartTrips program, which gives Portlanders customized packages of free resources to help them get … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

60,000 free bike maps: A look at Transportation Options’ survey results

The Options Division are the ones who deliver the SmartTrips packets to your door by bike.(Photos © J. Maus) The Transportation Options Division inside the Bureau of Transportation is a key piece of Portland’s success as a sustainable city. “Options” (as it’s known around here) is the marketing arm of the city’s transportation program and … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

‘SmartTrips’ leads to fewer car trips in Southeast

SmartTrips materials are 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 … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Familiar faces take home national bike/ped awards

Former ODOT bike guyMichael Ronkin won the Lifetime Achievement Award.(Photo: Jonathan Maus) Local transportation experts made their mark at a recent awards event hosted by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. The APBP is a non-profit founded in 1995 that, “promotes excellence in the emerging professional discipline of pedestrian and bicycle transportation.” The event … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Behind the scenes at SmartTrips Command Center

## Begin field transmission ## PDOT’s secret SmartTrips Command Center.File photo Yesterday, after a brief struggle with motorized transport units in downtown Portland, I was able to gain access to PDOT’s secret Command Center for their SmartTrips Southeast Bike Delivery Operation Squad (SSBDOS). Before being carted away by security guards, I was able to snap … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Revealing results to SmartTrips survey

[Survey boundary map.] PDOT’s Transportation Options Division has just released an interesting comparison of survey results based on their SmartTrips program. SmartTrips — formerly known as the “Hub” project — is the name given to their annual marketing program that promotes biking, walking, and public transit in a selected geographic area. In 2006 the target … Read more