Around the world, professionals are working to reshape transportation systems and make them more sustainable. Technologies such as more efficient cars and cleaner fuels can help, but the reality is that we need to focus on changing individual behaviour in two key ways:
Of all the household actions Americans can take, purchasing a fuel efficient vehicle has one of the greatest potentials for reducing greenhouse gasses, according to a recent analysis that factored in the proportion of people likely to buy the cars in a given year (Dietz et al., in PNAS, November 3, 2009). What are the key barriers and audience segments related to this purchase? Promoting and Sustaining Consumer Demand for Highly Fuel Efficient Automobiles provides a recent Canadian consumer analysis with strategy recommendations.
Seven transportation case studies have now been awarded our Landmark designation, which recognizes programs and social marketing approaches considered to be among the most successful in North America.
In the City of Ottawa, EnviroCentre developed and implemented community-based social marketing (CBSM) techniques designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through transportation demand management (TDM) initiatives linked to Green Home Visits (GHVs). By combining social marketing with community-based credibility and capacity, and by building partnerships with other stakeholders in the community, EnviroCentre demonstrated how cost-effective techniques can help people overcome barriers to changing their transportation habits.
Read More »U-PASS is a comprehensive, flexible program designed to encourage University of Washington students, staff and faculty to use alternative modes of transportation and thereby reduce the volume of traffic in Seattless University District The program provides many inexpensive commuting options and incentives to program participants, including: increased and subsidized transit service, shuttle service, carpools, vanpools, ridematch services, bicycle incentives, reimbursed rides home, daily flex permits, and merchant discounts.
Read More »The Green Communities Active and Safe Routes to School program encourages families to reduce automobile use and increase physical activity for children as they travel to and from school. Following its pilot implementations by Greenest City, the program expanded to other schools across the Greater Toronto Area and then throughout Ontario. Green Communities Canada now supports delivery of Active and Safe Routes to School programs nationwide. Updated in 2005.
Read More »The Auto$mart Student Driver Education Program provides driving educators across Canada with a classroom kit that helps them teach student drivers how to drive more safely while saving money and protecting the environment. The kit includes a video, an interactive CD-ROM and driver instructor materials. The course materials explain how informed decisions regarding car purchases (e.g., what type and model), operating habits (e.g., following posted speed limits), and maintenance (e.g., regular tune-ups) can improve fuel economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Read More »Off ramp is an out-of-class initiative that encourages secondary school students to walk, cycle or take transit to school more often, thereby reducing car use. It increases awareness of transportation and climate change issues, provides incentives, and reduces barriers to transportation alternatives. In short, it improves the availability and popularity of sustainable transportation within the schools and their communities. Its student handbook is available at a nominal cost.
Read More »This pilot used simple signs to promote health and weight control by encouraging the use of stairs instead of escalators.
Read More »The Cambie Corridor Consortium (CCC) was the first transportation management association (TMA) established in Canada. A TMA is an alliance of business, government, and other groups that aims to reduce traffic in a particular area by pooling resources and expertise. Cambie's aim is to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles commuting to the Cambie/Broadway area of Vancouver and improve air quality by providing alternative transportation solutions and information. Approximately 25,000 employees are represented through CCC's 21 members.
Read More »To promote a shift from single-occupant vehicle use to more sustainable modes of transportation, the City of Boulder uses several synergistic approaches. It offers transit passes to entire workplaces, schools and neighbourhoods, with guaranteed rides home for workplace pass holders needing to stay late at work or in case of an emergency. The city has continually improved its physical system to be more supportive of alternative transportation methods, with high-profile monthly reminders and opportunities to try these alternative methods.
Read More »Turn it Off is a community-based initiative to encourage individuals to avoid idling their vehicles while waiting at such places as school pick-up areas and transit Kiss and Ride parking lots. Replicability: high.
Read More »Seattle's In Motion program uses tantalizing neighborhood prompts followed by direct outreach to engage residents in learning about and trying travel options. King County Metro (KCM) has completed demonstrations in three neighborhoods, and additional demonstrations are now being conducted by several partner cities. Based on the Individualized Marketing apparoach, it was designed for easy replication, and a program how-to guide is currently being prepared to facilitate implementation by others.
Read More »When air pollution concentrations approach unhealthy levels, people living and working within the San Francisco Bay Area are notified, and encouraged to avoid activities that pollute the air. Partnerships with local businesses and public agencies allow the program to target commuters at work, and offer information, incentives and services to help them choose less polluting alternatives.
Read More »The Greater Vancouver Regional District's (GVRD's) Employee Trip Reduction Program took an integrated, multi-modal approach. By supporting the use of all modes of alternative transportation, a higher rate of employee buy-in could be obtained. This case study also shows how a municipality first developed a program for its own employees and then used it as a model for other employers. Even though GVRD has more resources to draw on than many other municipalities, the program's elements can be replicated by any community.
Read More »Hampshire County's Transport Awareness Initiative (HEADSTART) encourages more sensible use of cars in order to reduce road traffic and environmental pollution, protect human health and minimize future infrastructure cost. Based on the notion of public participation and community mobilization, the program developed and implemented a discussion workshop to help explore various transport issues, directly involve the community in the policy-making process, and engage the citizens in supporting the resulting policies. Volunteers were trained to lead the workshop, supported by a CD-ROM technology and a how-to manual that is available for use by other interested groups or organizations.
Read More »The region of Greater Cincinnati has implemented an episode day program to deal with the problem of smog and air quality. When the smog levels are particularly high, citizens are notified and encouraged to change their behaviours to less polluting ones. The focus is primarily on commuting, but includes other polluting activities as well. The campaign is known as Do your share for cleaner air.
Read More »Over a one-year period more than 150 people in the City of Århus, Denmark were actively encouraged to use bicycles or public transit for their daily commute. One of the goals of Bike Busters was to assess the extent to which motorists would switch to sustainable means of transportation.
Read More »Promoting and Sustaining Consumer Demand for Highly Fuel Efficient Automobiles. Canadian consumer segmentation, barrier analysis and strategy suggestions regarding the purchase of highly efficient vehicles. Download PDF
Read More »The resources section on this site contains survey and program evaluation resources, as well as approaches for overcoming barriers relating to walking, cycling, telework and the use of public transit.
Read More »The VTPI Online TDM Encyclopedia is a free, unique and comprehensive resource for identifying and evaluating innovative solutions to transportation problems. It contains more than 80 chapters, 1,000 pages and hundred of links.
Read More »This is the place to go for information and tools related to idling prevention programs. You'll find research, tools and findings, prepared articles, and ready-to-use graphics. A site newsletter provides news, a variety of graphics, presentations and other ideas for your idle-free campaign.
Read More »This guidebook contains a range of best practices for overcoming barriers to water efficiency, sustainable landscaping and sustainable transportation through alternative development standards, alternative housing and xeriscaping. It also reviews a range of transportation demand management (TDM) and transportation system management (TSM) strategies, and includes a section on sustainable community indicators. A priced publication that can be ordered on line from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC.)
Read More »This site offers publications and customizable slide decks for introducing TDM to municipal staff and elelcted officials
Read More »Covers a wide range of sustainability topics. Includes on-line, print and videos
Read More »This site offers access to the programs and services of TRB, a division of the National Research Council that encourages transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange. The site describes committee and panel activities, program descriptions and news, learning events, publications and resources. Of particular interest is the publications index (http://pubsindex.trb.org) that provides access to 41,000 transportation articles, papers and reports, and a weekly e-newlsetter (www.trb.org/news) that summarizes recent news and research.
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This site offers extensive case studies, tools, resources and research related to workplace commuting initiatives. The Best Workplaces for Commuters program provides national recognition for qualifying employers in the United States.
Read More »This site offers information for TDM practitioners in Canada, including presentations from the association's annual TDM Summit, tools and resources for National Rideshare Week, and research into the TDM business case and ways to enhance TDM through the development approval process.
Read More »This site helps community leaders, parents and schools develop programs and strategies that encourage and enable more children to safely walk and bike to school. It offers news, state contacts, a 'how-to' manual, and extensive resources for marketing, engineering, education, evaluation, enforcement, training and program development. Publisher: National Center for Safe Routes to School within the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center
Read More »Includes a guide to community-based social marketing, and sections with articles, brief case studies, graphic examples, and an archived listserv.
Read More »The aim of ELTIS is to provide information and support a practical transfer of knowledge and exchange of experience in the field of urban and regional transport in Europe.
Read More »Contains reviews of research evidence on interventions related to education, health promotional materials, employment, social care, and crime and justice.
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