Choose Your Way Bellevue Blog

We here at Choose Your Way Bellevue have been hearing quite a bit about the new ridesharing service go520, a pilot project sponsored by WSDOT that aims to pair drivers and riders in real-time as they travel. However, we had no idea what it was like to actually use it.

We know there’s nothing like a first hand account to alleviate the inevitable questions and concerns around trying something new. So, the folks involved with the project were kind enough to share this brief interview with one of their users, whom we’ll call Ronen Y.

Ronen uses go520 to commute from the Central District in Seattle to the Redmond Microsoft campus across the 520 bridge five times a week. Ronen initially became interested in the go520 project because he thought it would be a good way to earn cash for gas and have a faster commute. He primarily serves as a driver, so if you’re booking rides on this route you might get matched! Here is his story:

Pioneer Profile: Ronen Y.

Some info on Ronen:

Where do you commute from/to? Central District in Seattle to the Redmond Microsoft campus

How many days a week do you commute across the SR520 bridge? 5 days

Do you use the system mainly as a: Driver mainly (but also rider)

How did you hear about the go520 pilot program? Email from my employer

What made you interested in the program initially? Get some cash for gas and travel a little faster on the 520 on-ramp (as a driver or rider)

Q&A with Ronen:

What do you think of Avego’s go520 service?

I like the “stop-based” system go520 uses. The way I see it, it gives better chances of matching folks and gives riders flexibility to find a ride from different locations.

You took part in Avego go520 WP7 beta testing.  How did you find the app?

I thought the app was easy to install—within a few steps you’re up and running. Just have your data entered on the website and you can easily find riders. The app is intuitive and reliable, and you can count on it to match you with riders along your route.

You have attended Avego go520 events—how did you find this experience?

The events were well organized and fun. I really enjoyed meeting the crew and learning about their system, and also giving direct feedback to the folks at Avego.

Do you have concerns with the system in general?

No, but you need lots of drivers/riders to use it to be effective. Let’s get some more people on board!

Do you have any other comments about the go520 Program or Avego?

go520 is a great idea that takes commuting to the next level. Its simple design allows users to find a match to carpool within seconds once there’s a rider on your route. The flexibility this system has allows you to depart whenever you want, and find a driving match without binding to a schedule. Driving over the 520 bridge can be faster on the ramp, and the riders pay you some money back which isn’t something to dismiss so fast, especially with the new bridge tolls coming soon.

Curious about real-time ridesharing? Visit Avego’s go520 website to learn how you can earn money—and save time—by participating in the project. Have you tried the project? We’d love to hear your story, too! Post a comment below:

During National Bike Month in May, thousands of people hopped on a bicycle for the first time to see what life is like behind the handlebars.

Maybe that was you, timid at first, yet growing more confident by the day, learning to see your city in a new way, forever changed by the experience.

Whether you just started riding or have restarted after years away from a bicycle, we want to hear your adventure.

Tell us, in 420 words or less how starting to ride a bike has improved your life (or not!) Stories can be about the obstacles you overcame, cautionary tales or advice to would-be cyclists. Points will be given to those who include photos of their two-wheeled wonder!

The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Gregg’s Cycles to stock up on gear to make the ride even merrier. The winning story will also be posted on the Choose Your Way Bellevue blog and featured in our 2012 Bike to Work Month newsletter.

Stories must be emailed to hayley@bellevuedowntown.org. Contest runs for the entire month of August 2011. To be eligible you must live or work in downtown Bellevue.

And remember to like Choose Your Way Bellevue on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to learn about other contests and promotions throughout the year.

In exactly one week (Friday July 29 – Sunday, July 30) over 500 artists and about 300,000 people will swarm into Bellevue’s city center to experience arts fair weekend. What many people don’t know is that the event actually comprises three separate fairs:  The Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair, The 6th Street Fair and Bellevue Festival of the Arts. Will you be attending this year? If so, do you have your travel plans set? Read on for Choose Your Way Bellevue’s arts fair weekend transportation tips below!

Enjoy the arts and crafts in downtown Bellevue without sitting in traffic! Let Metro or Sound Transit do part of the driving for you. Simply park your car at a nearby park & ride, and then take the bus to a stop near the fair. Or better yet, visit metro.kingcounty.gov to plan your entire trip by bus using the Regional Trip Planner.

Tips for riding transit to downtown Bellevuea:

• Carry your exact fare in cash: Bus drivers do not have change. You may pay your fare, and the fare for others traveling with you, using any combination of paper and coin currency. ORCA transit passes are also accepted provided they have a value equal to or greater than the required fare (if not, a cash supplement may be required).
• Free fares for children: Up to 4 children ages 5 and under always ride free with a paying adult on Sound Transit and King County Metro buses.
• All buses are wheelchair accessible.
• Return trip to park and ride: Plan ahead by locating the bay where you will wait to catch a bus back to the park and ride, as well as determining when the last bus leaves to get you there. Schedules are posted at each bay to assist you.

Suggested Park and Ride Options for Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31:
The information below is specific to Saturday/Sunday operations. If you plan to utilize a park & ride lot on Friday you can expect more frequent service, a $2.50 fare on Metro routes and fewer available parking spaces, due to heavy commuter use. All suggested routes serve the Bellevue Transit Center for incoming and outgoing trips. For specific bus schedules and more detailed information, please visit metro.kingcounty.gov and enter your preferred route number in the “Get a Timetable” box in the upper right corner. For Sound Transit routes (535, 550 and 560) visit soundtransit.org.

If you have additional questions about arts fair weekend and getting there, please post a comment to the blog below. We’ll do our best to provide an answer as soon as possible. Plan ahead and enjoy the art!

Have you ever wanted to try a new method of commuting, but weren’t sure where to start? Now it’s easier than ever!

Between now and September 30th, we’ll do the planning for you, and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of six $25 gift cards to Bellevue Collection!

It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Stop by Commuter Connection from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, or visit us online. Fill out a commute planning form (it only takes a minute!) and be automatically entered to win!

See you soon!

I fully realize that it wasn’t long ago that I waxed poetic about the wonders of commuting, but to be perfectly honest, I’m just not feeling it this month. Maybe it was the woman whose endless coughing punctuated Monday morning’s bus ride, idling in gridlock on I-90 for an hour and a half while the sun slipped away last week, or a combination of losing my iPhone (no games! no email!) and the residually chilly weather keeping me off my bike. Whatever it is, as much as I love cozy Capitol Hill, it would dramatically impact my quality of life to live a bit closer to where I work (though at 12 miles, my commute is slightly less than the 14.97 miles the average worker in Bellevue commutes). The fact that I can play mix and match with my commute does add a feeling of agency to the equation, but there’s still something unsettling about losing an average of 3 hours of your day to an activity that by no stretch of the imagination is fun.

A potential solution to, what I’m sure is, a fairly common predicament are initiatives like Washington DC’s new Live Near Your Work Program.

Much like Bellevue, where only 17% of downtown workers actually live within Bellevue city limits, Washington DC has long struggled with the image and partial reality of being a commuter city.  A pilot partnership between the Washington DC’s Office of Planning and select employers throughout the city seeks to remedy just that, by handing out a total of $200,000 to people who are willing to move within two miles of their work, within a half mile of a Metro station, or within a quarter mile of a “high-quality” bus corridor. The Office of Planning explains the rationale behind the program, saying that that people who live closer to their work spend less money and time commuting, employers get the benefit of reduced parking costs and “better on time and work performance”, and the city gets spruced up urban neighborhoods and a wider tax base. And theoretically, the region will see less traffic congestion and air pollution as a result.  The Office of  Planning will match employer contributions (up to $6,000 per participating employee) to attract and retain DC residents, and partner employers will be selected via a competitive application process based upon their ability to administer the pilot program, offer homebuyer education, and provide matching grants for their employees. The pilot program has money for approximately 60 employees, and encourages home ownership in all areas of the city.

Critics have argued that the program is throwing free money at people who might have been planning to move somewhere else anyway, is not scalable, and that the money ought to be directed towards expanding metro rail and bus service.

But the Office of Planning responded by explaining that the LNYW program encourages employers to redirect the upwards of $10,000 they would spend to subsidize employee parking over a 5 year period towards a longer lasting investment for their employees. They are using this pilot model to develop best practices, and the program would only be continued and expanded if the study is able to measure the program’s benefits and resources are available.

Historical precedent for initiatives like this comes from Baltimore’s 14-year-old Live Near-Your-Work program, which provides grants to fully benefited employees of selected employers in search of homes in Baltimore. Its goal was to reduce sprawl, cut commutes and increase home ownership in designated areas slated for redevelopment. Initially, the state, city and employer (Hopkins is the largest among several) each contributed $1,000. Since its inception, the program has expanded dramatically and has helped approximately 300 people purchase homes in Baltimore, revitalizing downtrodden urban areas and improving quality of life in the process.  The program currently partners with over 50 employers, working closely with John Hopkins to provide up to $18,000 to employees of the University.

While our Eastside darling Bellevue is certainly not in need of revitalization and continues to grow organically, there is still a significant overhang of vacant residential space downtown. One could expect that increasing density in the urban core would only add to the kinds of things people love about being in a city—street food, independent shops, art, and increased transit service—and would certainly make an impact on the regional congestion that just doesn’t seem to dissipate.

Do you think programs like these are a good use of money and are worth replicating? Or should city governments instead spend dollars on improving bus service, or make driving so unpleasant through taxing and tolling that people would never consider doing it? If you’re a commuter, what’s the tipping point that would cause to consider moving closer to where you work?  Weigh in below!

The Connect Downtown Partnership recently conducted a transportation survey of downtown Bellevue commuters and residents to determine the commute habits, motivations and program awareness of individuals within set boundaries of downtown. The survey was developed with the intention of determining what messaging would best target this audience, and will be used to inform future programming, branding and messaging of Choose Your Way Bellevue.

The survey was taken by 394 individuals, 61% of whom were commuters to downtown Bellevue, 37% of whom were downtown residents that commute to other locations, and 2% of whom who both lived and worked in downtown. The survey went out in postcard form to all residents of downtown Bellevue, was posted in commercial buildings and was live on the Choose Your Way Bellevue website May 1 through June 14, 2011.

The majority of survey respondents commuted to work by driving alone (44.8%). In explaining their top reasons for doing so, respondents listed that were no reasonable transit options, they require the use of a car for errands before and after work, and because it saves time.  37% of this population reported that increased bus service would motivate them to ditch their vehicles, though in an illuminating statistic, 22.7% of drivers indicated that nothing would encourage them to change their habits.

Riding the bus was the second most cited commute method, comprising 21% of the mode-share, followed by carpool at 10.4%. The top reason for using both these modes was cost savings. Respondents also cited stress reduction, time savings, convenience and an employer subsidy for doing so. 5.5% of respondents walked to work, and 2% of respondents reported cycling to work.

When respondents were asked about general motivators contributing to their choice of commute mode, the top three reasons were convenience, cost savings and time savings. The top impacts to commute mode choice were transit service levels, traffic levels, and gas prices.

Respondents were also asked the minimum monthly financial incentive that would encourage them to try a non drive-alone mode. The majority of people indicated that $50 would help them make a change, though $100 was the second most oft-cited amount.

These results are quite illuminating as Choose Your Way Bellevue moves forward in branding, messaging and programming efforts directed towards downtown residents and employees. It is clear that we are working with a primarily drive-alone population, and there are some major obstacles to overcome to change these habits.

Considering that neither Sound Transit or King County Metro are in a financial position to expand service in the near future, we will not be able to use that as a motivating factor to encourage non-drive alone habits. Furthermore, there is a segment of the population who claims they would never change their method, which is understandable given that the ample amount of free parking in Bellevue keeps the actual costs to drivers down.

But perhaps we could do a better job at quantifying the cost savings, stress reduction and health benefits of participating in alternate commute modes. Driving eats up a large portion of American’s annual budget, and is the second highest cost behind housing,  but because driving has become so normalized in our culture, these costs remain invisible to many people. Whether it’s getting people excited about what they could do with the money saved by not driving, or demonstrating how often during peak travel times, driving isn’t actually faster (which my anecdotal evidence on I-90 overwhelmingly supports), there must be a way to show it visually, either through infographics or videos.

Additionally, walkers and cyclists overwhelmingly report being happier and healthier commuters, so we ought to encourage them to be more vocal (though not evangelical!) about their commute stories. Cycling burns an average of 300 calories per hour, and walking burns 136. Compare that to the 80 or so you burn while sedentary (car commuting) and active transportation starts to look like a winning option, eliminating the need for extra time at the gym and requiring no monetary contribution beyond start up costs.

But the reality is that most people live far enough away from their jobs that walking or cycling is not a viable option—only 6% of workers in Downtown Bellevue report actually living downtown, and the average commute distance is 14 miles. There’s always the possibility of combining active transportation with public transportation, and 7% of our respondents indicated being multi-modal commuters. But commuters tend to dread transfers, which add stress and uncertainty what can often be a lengthy commute.

Stay tuned—our next post will be about programs around the country that are encouraging people to live closer to where they work, which will help to alleviate some of the necessary driving wrought by extended distances between home and work.

Tomorrow is national Dump the Pump Day, and transit agencies across the country are encouraging solo drivers to fatten their wallets by ditching the car in favor of public transportation.

From the American Public Transportation Association:

“Riding public transit is the quickest way to beat high gas prices. Our recent Transit Savings Report shows that a two person household that downsizes to one car can save, on the average, more than $10,000 a year.”

With high gas prices and household budgets already stretched thin, thousands of Puget Sound commuters are already experiencing the benefits of using transit.

“Puget Sound residents have so many great alternatives to driving—buses, light rail, streetcars, trains, vanpools and ferries. Dump the Pump Day is a great time to try out a new ride and save some money,” said Kevin Desmond, General Manager of King County Metro Transit in a press release.

To celebrate, there will be a variety of activities happening throughout the region. King County Metro Transit, in partnership with Sound Transit, will thank riders at the Bellevue, Federal Way, Northgate and Tukwila transit centers for “Dumping the Pump” and being part of the solution to traffic congestion. Riders will be greeted with a free cup of coffee and pastries donated by area businesses during the Thursday morning commute. Metro will also be emphasizing all the transit options available to commuters, including how to avoid upcoming tolls on the SR 520 bridge and congestion on the Alaska Way Viaduct by taking advantage of expanded transit options.

In addition, Choose Your Way Bellevue will be giving away cookies and coffee at the Commuter Connection store at the Bellevue Transit Center from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Also, Sound Transit will be giving away several ORCA cards loaded with $10 for regional travel as part of a Twitter promotion (@SoundTransit). Participants can “retweet” a special message all week and be entered to win a drawing for the ORCA cards.

But this needn’t be a one day thing—we encourage you to find out how much money you could potentially save using the Fuel Savings Calculator on the APTA website. By entering some basic information such as miles traveled each day, vehicle fuel economy and local transit fare, an individual can instantly see their personal potential savings.

Please join us in celebrating public transportation—and saving money in the process! See you on the bus!

The Embarq Global Network for Sustainable Transportation just released a seminal report called “From Here to There: Marketing and Branding Public Transportation,” which investigates myriad ways cities and transit agencies can work to give public transportation a competitive edge.

From the rather ominous introduction:

“Major automobile companies spend billions of dollars annually to advertise their products to customers. Major auto companies collectively spent $21 billion worldwide and it looks like their investments are working. Car ownership is on the rise across the globe, in countries like China, India and Brazil. Such overwhelming statistics in favor of private vehicles, backed by billion dollar investments in advertising campaigns, illustrate the necessity for public transportation to play catch up in this marketing game.”

When it comes to marketing public transportation, so much of the focus is placed upon the technical and financial aspects of getting public transit projects off the ground that branding and marketing often become an afterthought. This report takes issue with the idea that marketing is a “luxury” that transit agencies cannot afford, and argues that cultivating a better public image attracts riders, leading to higher revenue and demand for service, creating what Embarq consultants refer to as a “virtuous cycle.”

In short, it is not enough for transit agencies to assume ridership by anticipating a desire among the citizenry to be virtuous, or even thrifty. Transit agencies must think like marketing executives…and beat the competition. This boils down to the following:

Transit agencies must

1. Attract new riders by making the system legible and accessible

2. Retain existing riders by listening and responding to customer feedback.

3. Secure political and financial support by running eye catching and persuasive campaigns

So what can transit agencies do to build their market share, in the face of the influence of automobile advertising dollars on public perception? The report highlights at length the Los Angeles Metro Authority’s 2009 ad campaign that promoted taking public transportation as a hip solution to congestion problems endemic to the city. It was called “Opposites” and presented clever graphics positing public transit as the angelic counter to polluting driving habits. To help spread the message, they handed out free t-shirts to trendsetters in urban neighborhoods, who then served as ambassadors for the service. This campaign was successful in generating support for Measure R, a 1/2 cent sales tax that is expected to generate 40 billion dollars over the next 30 years for improving transit services in LA.

Watch the video below:

LA Metro: Promoting Mass Transit from EMBARQ Network on Vimeo.

Another public transportation success story not mentioned in the report, but worth examining comes from St Louis, where in 2010 voters approved a ½ cent sales tax to fund service operations and expand light rail.  In St Louis, the challenge was to convince voters who do not ride transit that they should care about it. (The ridership is relatively small among the general population, and only 3 percent take public transit to work).  In order to do this, the campaign put a face on public transit to show that even though most people do not ride transit, almost everyone depends on workers who do ride transit. Television ads, for example, showed a wide swath of recognizable figures in St Louis reminding voters that the people who take care of us in hospitals and the people who serve us coffee in the morning depend on public transit. The centerpiece of the campaign was the slogan: “Some of us ride it. All of us need it.” View campaign videos here.

Some advice included in the EMBARQ report that may prove useful to our regional transit providers include enhancing user education efforts such as offering free rides on new services (perhaps the new Bellevue-Redmond Rapid Ride, scheduled to begin in Fall 2011 would be a good opportunity),  heightening their online engagement strategies by integrating dynamic Facebook and Twitter platforms, giving unexpected and colorful facelifts to existing facilities, going door to door to answer questions, inviting politicians on inaugural rides for new services, and interjecting some fun into an activity that is often associated with workday tedium.

While fairly comprehensive, one glaring absence from the report is any sort of guidance for how transit agencies should redirect funds towards marketing in this continuing era of austerity. King County Metro has cut back on much of their programming in order to preserve existing service, so for them, marketing may be literally be a luxury that they cannot afford. Perhaps Embarq should follow up with a piece called “Marketing Public Transportation Part 2: Closing the Gap Through Public/Private Partnerships.”

However, one thing is for certain. Transit agencies throughout the country need to begin promoting themselves like a business—and not simply as a public good—for the ultimate win. Do you have any ideas for how to make public transportation more competitive? Weigh in below:

Contributed by Choose Your Way Bellevue Guest Blogger: Stephanie Frans, Cascade Bicycle Club

May is National Bike Month. This fun-filled month inspires thousands of Puget Sound residents to embark on an exciting new adventure in transportation: bicycling. This tale of adventure stars everyday people just like you, with a supporting cast of events, encouragement, inspiration, and incentives.

This year involves an exciting plot development in Bellevue….big time bike love. In addition to all the Bike Month events produced by Cascade Bicycle Club, Choose Your Way Bellevue has set the stage for a thriving bike scene in Bellevue. Check it out!

Join thousands of your best bike friends on F5 Bike to Work Day, Friday May 20th. Stop by a commute station along your route to grab a free water bottle, fuel up with tasty treats, grab a local bike map, or pump up your tires. In downtown Bellevue, be sure to stop by the Bike Bar at Commuter Connection at the Bellevue Transit Center. The Factoria area will feature a great station at the I-90 Bike Trail intersection at SE 34th Street.

But why stop with a simple one-day cameo appearance? Why not join the cast for a month-long production that will transform you into an A-list celebrity bike commuter. The Group Health Commute Challenge builds a heartwarming story of team camaraderie with dramatic elements of fierce competition among teams and organization.

Cascade Bicycle Club not only produces Bike Month, but also supports bicycling every day of the year. We look forward to working with businesses, elected officials, and transportation agencies to create a better Bellevue through bicycling.

Contributed by Choose Your Way Bellevue Guest Blogger: Hayley Richardson, TransManage

I’d like to begin by saying that I am pretty fortunate when it comes to my transportation options. Even though I live in Capitol Hill and have been known to complain about working all the way in Bellevue, the commute isn’t so terrible. I saunter down the hill in the mornings, sometimes greeted by the Olympic Mountains and a tantalizing glimpse of the Bay, then I hop on the Sound Transit 550 bus (which is never late, by the way) and daydream for the entirety of the 30 minute ride that drops me off directly in front of my office. My ORCA pass is subsidized by my employer, so my commute is free, straightforward, and pleasant, with little room for error or drama.

In spite of these glowing accolades, however, I often drove to work throughout the winter (hey, I’m a southern gal—this Seattle weather is no joke!), a decision which was no doubt incentivized by the ample amount of free parking in Bellevue (provided at a location which shall remain nameless for this purpose). If I timed it right, I could have this (potentially) hour-long trip reduced to a criminally brief 25 minutes, get to sleep in, and have loads of extra time to finish writing my great novel, train for a marathon, and cure cancer. Or something.

But the recent increase in gas prices have caused me to really sit up and re-evaluate my strategy. One of the things I started realizing was how often there was traffic on my way home (I-405 south just got ranked the 8th worst commute in the country) and how sitting, clench fisted on the highway, made me feel anxious, isolated and far from a great version of myself. And realistically, what’s that one saved hour worth? Taking public transportation guarantees me 60 minutes of walking a day (less time at the gym!) as well as an opportunity to catch up on personal email and texting on my iPhone, a fairly wondrous invention (thanks, Steve!), not to mention the $50 a week I was spending on gas.

Humans are pretty rational creatures, and recent surveys indicate that my decision is hardly unique—according to the Seattle Times, driving is down 56% since the most recent gas price increases, and it looks like those numbers will hold throughout the summer, affecting travel plans and causing general woe across the board. But instead of being bummed about this (though it’s hard not to wish those gas prices were helping the local economy a bit more), I decided to think positive and do something with the money I’d saved over the past month by not driving.

Cue in to Tuesday night of this week, where I’m sitting, surrounded by people old and young, looking out over the Seattle skyline, drinking cheap red wine with new friends and listening in rapt attention as my professor launches into a discussion of the subtle differences between “jour” and “journee”.

That’s right, I decided to take a French class, something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl, entranced by the Madeline series and Angelina Ballerina. And the greatest part is that I didn’t have to scrimp and save in order to do so! And perhaps if my public transportation diligence continues, I’ll have enough saved up by the end of the year to actually VISIT Paris!

We’d love to hear from you about how recent increases in gas prices have affected your driving habits, and creative or fun things you’re doing with the money saved by changing or shifting commute modes! If you want to share any tips for making the most of your transportation dollars, we wouldn’t argue with that either. Please, share away by commenting on this blog post below.

Results from a recent study conducted by Latitude & Next American City show somewhat surprisingly that many city dwellers would consider giving up their cars if they had access to mobile applications, transit data, and carsharing infrastructure.

In the study (conducted in late 2010), 18 participants from San Francisco and Boston were asked to relinquish their cars for one week, the vast majority of whom had ranked cars as their most necessary form of transportation. During the week they used public transit, walked, biked, or shared rides, and completed surveys about their attitudes and experiences before, during and after the experience. A detail worth including—3 in 4 participants owned smartphones.

After the car-free week, four fifths of the participants indicated that car ownership was not essential to their daily lives, and over half felt more connected to their community, as well as more aware about what was going on around them. Mark V, from San Francisco, wrote “during my car-free week, I realized that if you live in a city and drive back and forth from work every day, you are missing out on the richness of your community.”

Thankfully there are already a great number of mobile applications designed to make car-free (or car-light!) life a bit easier. Let’s do a brief survey of the extant market for transportation-related apps.

At the head of the pack you have Zipcar, with a free iPhone app that lets you find a car, reserve a car, and even unlock your car. Zipcar is definitely leading the way in the app design and usability department, all while lessening the need for car ownership.

But what if you just need a one-way ride and are feeling flexible? The go520 iPhone application (with a Windows Phone 7 app coming soon) lets you find a ride in real-time by locating drivers headed in your same direction, assigning you a pin number for safety purposes, and has a feature that enables automatic cost-sharing of the ride.

Maybe you’re a tried and true transit rider. Stuck on the side of the road and wondering where your bus is? One Bus Away has apps for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7, and features real-time arrival information for a number of local transit agencies. You’ll get arrival info for every bus stop, and easy access to information across a variety of platforms.

Or maybe you’re a cyclist? Ride The City is a global mobile application that lets users map a bike route in 26 major cities (Disclaimer: Seattle is one of them, Bellevue is not, unfortunately). Even better than the Google map bike route application, it will help you find the safest, fastest and most convenient route (and a way around those pesky hills).

Decided to take public transportation to work, but an emergency means you have to leave unexpectedly? Taxi Magic will get you there. Book from your mobile phone or the web and track the arrival of your taxi, charge the ride to your credit card, or expense the trip with an e-receipt.

Moving and want to take walkability into account? WalkScore helps you determine the “walk score” of any location and even comes with a map of nearby amenities within walking directions, as well as reviews and ratings.

So where is the technology lacking? One participant in the Latitude study indicated they’d like to see an application that “allows you to compare options for getting to different places, and maybe adds information like carbon emissions, calories burned and so on, for each option.”  Another suggestion was for a “somewhat experimental” application that would reward small sustainable choices like riding a bike with points, which could then be exchanged in the real world. There are also much more innovative ideas on ways to package data from transportation agencies to offer a side-by-side comparison of travel options.

One of the most essential takeaways from the study is that when it comes to your transportation choices, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  As one participant pointed out, “you can plan a few days a week to go car free, and you get the benefits like time to exercise and read while reducing your environmental impact.”  In short, mobile apps make it easy and even fun to be “good,” and help to create the feeling of transportation independence and choice among users. Choices which of course can still include a car; you’ll just have a lot more information when it comes time to weigh your options.

Be sure to download a copy of Choose Your Way Bellevue’s Mobile App Brochure, which outlines the features and pricing of the various apps discussed above (and more!) for all types of transportation in the Bellevue-area. Copies are also available at the Commuter Connection Store (Bellevue Transit Center, 10850 NE 6th Street, Downtown Bellevue). >> Download

Photo by TransportationCamp on Flickr

We at Choose Your Way Bellevue are geeked (literally) to report back from Transportation Camp, which took place in San Francisco this past weekend. A great mix of entrepreneurs, transit nerds, policy makers, activists, and students assembled under a disco ball to tackle the question: How can we use data to improve our cities and transportation systems?

Sponsored by Open Plans and the Rockefeller Foundation, Transportation Camp is a relatively new concept referred to as an “unconference”(also popular in the tech world because they reflect the culture of the industry) with a hands-on, flexible, a little casual but very hard working and fun to the extreme approach. Instead of a set schedule and droning speakers, every attendee at Transportation Camp had the opportunity to suggest or lead a breakout session, panel discussion or Q&A, and was encouraged to be as creative as possible.  Topics up for discussion ran the gamut of “sexy transit,” “building apps for livable streets,” and “the perils of privatization,” which resulted in delightful and sometimes unexpected conversations. Questions like, what makes a liveable street? Can mobile applications be built that facilitate street life? What are the best practices being deployed by transportation demand management groups across the globe? and How can social media be leveraged to generate more on the ground involvement? were asked.

The majority of the sessions were geared towards addressing the current reality: with accelerating technology and recent census figures pouring in, many municipal governments have unprecedented access to data sets and are trying to figure out what to do with them.  Attendees had the goal of brainstorming how to package this information in a way that is transparent, accountable, and efficient.

While attendees may not have arrived at any answers, there were definitely some concrete conclusions. Consensus abounded that information should be and wants to be made public, and that in order to facilitate and maintain democracy, it should be shared in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Attendees also agreed that nonprofit groups are essential at bridging the divide between public and private entities, and are well positioned to introduce new technologies to a diverse range of constituencies. Everyone acknowledged that web developers are notorious for existing in silos, and deemed it integral that they be encouraged, maybe even incentivized, to talk with citizens about how to build apps that would actually be useful and valuable to them. Groups like Code For America, which collaborates with selected cities throughout the United States to transform data into something which encourages citizen participation and civic building, were featured. 

What are your reactions? Could access to data really improve the transportation system? Are there mobile applications that would make you more likely to use transit? Would knowing the transportation habits of your co-workers make you want to change your behavior? Do you think real-time ridesharing could work in our region? What about connecting your transit pass to a carsharing service? The possibilities are as endless as a data set:  Share your thoughts below!

Perhaps they are crossing the I-90 Bridge on their commute into downtown from Seattle, or enjoying a lunchtime ride through the lush green of the Bellevue Downtown Park. Or maybe they’re delivering sandwiches from Jimmy Johns to high-rise office buildings, or parking their bikes at Commuter Connection. From CEO’s to janitors, clad in anything from spandex to high heels, they routinely take to the streets: the few, the proud, the mighty.  

As we gear up for Bike Month in May, we want to demonstrate that people do bike in Bellevue—contrary to what the perception may be. So, we’re running a “Spot a Cyclist Contest” from now until April 17th.  To participate, simply take a photo of a cyclist or evidence of bicycle infrastructure—bike lanes, bike racks, or bicycles around town, and post it to our Facebook page along with your email address. Just for posting, you will automatically win your choice of a Choose Your Way Bellevue pen, tote bag or bike/walk safety light! The best photo of all will make it onto our Bike Month promotional materials (with due credit of course)!

Help us give visibility to our bikers! Spot a cyclist—and win!

Another day, another story about bike sharing. This one comes to us from Mumbai, and it concerns a college student who got fed-up with his city’s limited transportation system, continued congestion, and toxic pollution, and decided to take action. “I started Cycle Chalao from the basic frustration over not finding adequate transportation here,” founder Raj Janagam tells Fast Company. At about $4 per month, members of his bicycle sharing service primarily rely on it to commute from class to work and home, but Janagam is now gearing up to expand to allow for long-distance and overnight use. And he’s a finalist in the global enterprise accelerator program, the Unreasonable Institute.

The darling of transportation planners and urbanists alike, the bike-share concept is exploding worldwide, as cities as diverse as Minneapolis to Montreal to Mumbai seek to increase bicycle usage and decrease reliance on the automobile, particularly for trips less than three miles. According to Portland Online, Bike Sharing has the ability to “increase number of bicycling trips, introduce new people to active transportation, reduce peak-hour pressure on transit and provide the “last mile” connection between transit stop and final destination, reduce automobile trips, and improve livability.” There are now over 230 bike sharing programs worldwide, and along with them comes an incredible number of success stories: Washington DC’s Capital Bike Share has generated 115,000 trips in just four months, Barcelona’s Bicing has replaced 10% of automobile trips, and Dublin’s DublinBikes has over 40,000 active members.

What does it take to implement a successful bike-sharing program? There as many different models as there are colors with which to paint the bikes! Some are membership only and require a membership Smartcard to check out a bike, though some are credit card or cell phone activated. The most successful programs tend to be a self service model with a progressive rate structure that allows the first 30 minutes of the trip to be free, acting as an incentive to try it out. Another determinant of success is how widely available the bikes are—they must be placed in a high density centers near employment and universities, and their placement must be strategic and convenient. The systems also vary a great deal with regard to their funding sources—some operate as public/private partnerships, some are paid for by exclusive advertising rights on shelters and bikes, and some are the recipients of grant and philanthropic dollars.

Would bike-share be a solution to Bellevue’s traffic woes? Bellevue ostensibly presents a challenge to even the most experienced cyclists because so many of the roadways are designed primarily for cars, with heavy, fast moving traffic at almost any hour of the day. However, what we lack in roadspace we make up for in sidewalks—they’re nice and wide and perfectly legal to ride upon. Another obstacle is the number of hills that grace downtown Bellevue—rendering an intense workout inevitable. But there are a number of innovative new technologies such as the Copenhagen Wheel, which give cyclists a boost when they need it and could be included in the bicycle fleet. And of course there’s the chicken or the egg argument—which comes first, improved bicycle infrastructure, or more cyclists on the streets? Janagram has recognized that a huge part of his programs success is connecting commuters to their ultimate destinations—be it from bus stop to office or park and ride to home—which would be difficult in Bellevue, given the distance from which people commute. But if Janagram’s success is any indication, sometimes all it takes is a good idea and a dedicated individual to get an entire city in motion.

What do you think? Could bike sharing work in Bellevue? Join the conversation!

Hardly. But Metro is advising bus commuters  to expect “crowded buses, snow routing, and delays during the Wednesday evening commute“. Looking out our office window in Downtown Bellevue there isn’t much sign of snow at all. In fact the sun is peaking through the clouds. But that could all change by tonight’s PM commute according to the City of Bellevue’s website:

“The city could see an additional 1 to 3 inches citywide and 2 to 4 inches in the South Bellevue hills prior to Wednesday’s evening commute, with snow and freezing temperatures continuing Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The extended forecast indicates that snow should taper off Thursday afternoon, with clearing and cold temperatures into Friday.”

Seattle’s SDOT crews are also preparing for the worse. According to a City of Seattle news release:

“As of 4 a.m., ten snow plows will hit the streets in the north sector of Seattle and eight plows will move into action in the south sector. Starting at 9 a.m., SDOT will go into a full 24-hour response plan to keep roads open, buses moving and critical emergency services accessible.”

So what is a commuter to do when everyone seems to be awaiting a snowmageddon? Use your best judgment. Whether you have a cross-lake commute, are heading south or north, it’s best to get home safely while the roads are still clear. The conditions are expected to worsen into the evening, so the earlier you leave the better. If your employer allows you to work from home for the last few hours of your day, take advantage of this benefit. And don’t forget to check Metro’s Alerts Center to see if your bus is on emergency snow routing before you leave.

Be safe and good luck out there!

Have you ever heard of getting paid for trying a new commute? Didn’t think so. With Way to Work Bellevue , a new online commute incentive program, you could potentially earn up to $60 in gift cards to places like REI, Brown Bear Car Wash, Gregg’s Cycles, The Walking Company, Chevron and more! The deadline for signing up is Friday, February 18, so get on board while you still can! Here are the details:

Currently drive alone? Pledge to try a new way of getting to work and take these steps:

1) Fill out and turn in the Way to Work Bellevue sign up form.

2) Look for your sign up confirmation email containing a promotion code. 

3) Register on RideshareOnline.com.

4) Join the Way to Work Bellevue network. Search “Way to Work” under “Profile > My Networks” on RideshareOnline.com. Enter promotion code to join.

5) Begin logging your non-drive-alone commute trips on RideshareOnline.com’s trip calendar.

Just for pledging to try a new commute and registering on RideshareOnline.com, you will automatically receive a $10 gift card! Log 25 days or more of round trip non-drive-along commutes and you will automatically receive a $25 gift card! Monthly drawings for $50 gifts will also be made in February, March and April for those who continue to log their trips at least 3x per week. 

Already ride the bus, carpool, vanpool, bike or walk to work? Pledge to continue commuting the way you do:

1) Fill out and turn in the Way to Work Bellevue sign up form.

2) Look for your sign up confirmation email containing a promotion code. 

3) Register on RideshareOnline.com.

4) Join the Way to Work Bellevue Commute Pros network! Search “Way to Work” under “Profile > My Networks” on RideshareOnline.com. Enter promotion code.

5) Begin logging your non-drive-alone commute trips on RideshareOnline.com’s trip calendar.

Just for pledging to stick to your non-drive-alone commute and registering on RideshareOnline.com, you will automatically receive a $10 gift card! Monthly drawings for $50 gifts will also be made in February, March and April for those who log their trips at least 3x per week!

So what are you waiting for - sign up for Way to Work Bellevue today!

Are you interested in telework but have questions about how a work from home program could be successfully implemented at your company? Choose Your Way Bellevue works with telework expert Rick Albiero, CEO of the Telecomuting Advantage Group (TAG). Submit your telework questions to our expert here, or read on for previous Q&A’s requested publicly on the Telework Bellevue Ask an Expert page. And be sure to check back for more telework questions and answers from our expert. The Q&A’s are featured here on the Choose Your Way Bellevue blog on a monthly basis.

Question 4:  We are concerned about data security and the amount of traffic our Intranet system can handle. Is this typically a major investment that companies need to make associated with telecommuting?

Rick’s Reply: The technology that supports telework/telecommuting programs has not only become much less expensive over the last several years, but it is also much more robust, user-friendly, and in many cases does not require the purchase of new hardware. Financial and health institutions have found that these systems are robust enough to meet federal requirements.  We also work with several architecture and engineering companies that have no problem with data security needs or handling very large drawing files. Other benefits of these systems are that they track and control access to files, provide file revision control and allow employees to be productive while travelling, working remotely and at client sites. Microsoft, Citrix Online, Adobe and other software providers offer online collaboration tools that support teleworkers at a very low price point. If you have more specific questions or would like additional information feel free to contact TAG.

Are you interested in telework but have questions about how a work from home program could be successfully implemented at your company? Choose Your Way Bellevue works with telework expert Rick Albiero, CEO of the Telecomuting Advantage Group (TAG). Submit your telework questions to our expert here, or read on for previous Q&A’s requested publicly on the Telework Bellevue Ask an Expert page. And be sure to check back for more telework questions and answers from our expert. The Q&A’s are featured here on the Choose Your Way Bellevue blog on a monthly basis.

Question 3: We hear about productivity gains from teleworkers.  Where do they come from and has anyone actually measured them?

Rick’s Reply: Productivity gains come from multiple sources.  Teleworkers experience fewer disruptions while they are working allowing them longer periods of concentration.  Teleworkers often have more flexible work hours, allowing them to accomplish job-tasks during their peak work hours.  The ongoing discussion of “morning vs. night” people does have a basis in the fact that some employees may be the most productive in the morning and others late in the afternoon or early evening.  Allowing employees the option of working during these hours, rather than being in the middle of the commute, is likely going to increase the amount of work they accomplish.  Add in more effective time management, reduced absenteeism and the feeling of empowerment they experience and employees experience an almost effortless level of increased productivity.

Many organizations have implemented telework metrics and collect productivity data and/or conduct employee surveys.  Some examples include American Express and Alpine Access who both report an increase of over 25% among teleworking sales and support agents.  Sun Microsystems found that teleworkers contribute 60% of the time that they used to spend commuting getting work done.  Best Buy’s average productivity is up 35% due to their flexible work program.

Although it’s a little early to start preparing for Bike to Work Month in May (we’re still dealing with snow storms here people), our triple threat Commuter Spotlight provided some great inspiration for getting in shape this year. Meet Brad Shinn – the poster child for getting your workout in while cutting down commute costs and reducing your carbon footprint. Brad rides his bike, takes the ferry and finishes his commute to Downtown Bellevue on the bus!

Name:
Brad Shinn

Employer:
CH2MHILL

Commute Mode:
Bike + ferry + bus 

Distance One-Way:
11 miles on bike, about 30 miles total 

What does your bicycle commute entail?
I start out biking on Vashon Highway to the Fauntleroy or Downtown Ferry. Once I’m off the ferry, I bike to the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel and take the Sound Transit route 550 bus to the South Bellevue Park & Ride and finish off the last mile to the office on my bike. I bike five days a week unless I’m travelling. In the summer I usually add another leg—either Bellevue to Seattle or Seattle to Fauntleroy Ferry. 

How long have you been commuting by bicycle?
I started the day after Memorial Day weekend, three years ago. 

What do you like best about your biking commute?
There is so much I like about it—the time for reflection, the exercise, the feeling that I am minimizing my impact, the reliability. It also a good conversation starter, “you bike from where?” 

What motivates you to continue commuting by bicycle instead of taking another mode?
Believe it or not I started because I was tired of the unreliability of driving and inflexibility of taking the bus. My commute takes no more time than it did when I drove—except now I can control it. 

If you could improve one thing about the biking experience in Downtown Bellevue, what would it be?
I would say for the region, not just Bellevue, separate bike lines and more of them in congested downtown areas. 

What advice would you give to someone considering commuting by bicycle?
Get a good solid bike, spend the extra money on solid components so your bike is tough and reliable. Buy quality clothing that allow you to ride in any kind of weather—if you don’t you’ll find a million excuses not to ride on a rainy day.

King County Metro Transit has announced several fare changes that will take effect on January 1, 2011.
The changes apply to both single bus trip fares and transit pass products. These fare increases are one of many approaches that Metro is using to help ease the effects of a budget shortfall. 

Here are the highlights you should know about:

• 25¢ increase in adult fares (Fares for passes and ticketbooks will also increase)
• 25¢ increase in Access fares (Monthly passes will also increase to $45)
• Monthly/Annual Reduced Fare Pass will officially be replaced with PugetPass
• Weekend Day Pass and Sunday/Holiday Family Fare eliminated
• Youth fares and will remain unchanged
• Cash fares will remain at 75¢ for seniors and those who qualify for reduced fare (Monthly passes will be going up);
• Metro-only annual and monthly reduced fare passes will no longer be sold in 2011 (Existing passes will continue to be valid until they expire)

To find out more about how to purchase an ORCA card, visit orcacard.com, or call 1 (888) 988-6722.

For more information about upcoming the Metro fare adjustments, visit metro.kingcounty.gov.