finding the best transportation options for your employees

Bicycle Commuting in

Tucson

Bike Friendly• Gold-rated Bike Friendly Community

• No. 1 Bike Town – Outdoor Magazine, May 2012

• Cyclovia Tucson – 50,000 participants in 2014

• Over 1,000 bikeway miles in the region

• 7th Highest Bike-to-Work Rate: Highest it has ever been!

Why Bicycling?

Why Tucson?

Overcoming Barriers – How to get started??

– Plan your RouteDestination - replacing car trip

Crossings

– Rent or Borrow a Bike for the Day

– Check out Cyclovia or a social ride

– Take a class– Start small,

build up– Look for

resources– HAVE FUN!!

Resources Available:– BICAS: Bike mechanics, build a bike: http://bicas.org/– Maps: Apps (Tucson Bikeways), Metro, UA, Loop

– http://www.tucsonaz.gov/bicycle/bikeways-footpaths-and-maps

– Safety Information: Share the Road, Crossings, Biking Wrong Way– http://www.tucsonaz.gov/bicycle/safety-policies-and-laws

– Bike Registration: Free via UA• https://parking.arizona.edu/account/bicycle.php

– Events: Cyclovia Tucson, Living Streets Alliance• http://www.cycloviatucson.org/ / http://www.livingstreetsalliance.org/

– News: Facebook, BicycleTucson.org, Websites– Getting Involved: Bicycle Advisory Committee, Living Streets Alliance,

Neighborhood Groups, Write/Call about your issues and concerns• http://www.tucsonaz.gov/bicycle

City’s Commitment• Expand Bicycle Facility options

• Improve safety and connectivity

• Listen to concerns

• Address barriers

Cycling and TransitOn the Streetcar On the Bus

Bike Parking

• Get FREE bike racks for you business!

– Visit: http://www.tucsonaz.gov/bicycle/bike-parking

Or contact:

– Andy Bemis (520) 837-6596, andrew.bemis@tucsonaz.gov

Bike Share

Supporting Cycling at your Business

• Secure long and short term bike parking• Showers• Incentive programs

• http://www.bikefesttucson.com/

• Bicycle Friendly Business• http://bikeleague.org/business

• Feature your business in BikeLife Magazine

Cyclovia November 1

• Free fun for whole family

• Walking, Bicycling, Strolling, etc.

• Activities along the way

• Volunteer opportunities

• Become an Activity Partner

• See you there!

Andy BemisTucson Department of TransportationBicycle and Pedestrian ProgramAndrew.Bemis@tucsonaz.gov520-837-6596

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The Smart, Sustainable Commuting OptionJuly 8, 2015

Presenter: Rick MacNeal – Regional Outreach

Commuter Vanpool Program

Vanpools function like carpools except:

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• Vanpools by law must seat 7 (or more) passengers. Groups can be comprised of 5-15 people

• Considered an Alternative Transportation option –vanpools are eligible for local or federal subsidies

• No one uses their own vehicle – no personal wear & tear• All drivers’ records are checked to insure they have a history

of safe vehicle operation• Vanpools carry commercial insurance with a zero deductible

and participants save on personal insurance• With costs shared by larger group size, individual costs are

considerably lower

Where Do Car/Vanpools Fit In?

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• Fixed schedule public transportation options not

suitable• Commute path is not compatible with fixed transit

• Transit schedule not conducive to work schedule

• Requires too much extra commute time

• Best for daily commutes of 15 miles or more

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Little Ditty About Jack and Dianne

and…

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Betty Phyllis

Marie

and Sam

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Dianne lives in Oro Valley but works in Vail at the U of A Tech Park

Driving alone, she began thinking about this whole “shared economy” thing

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At work she noticed a few Sun Rideshare vans in the parking lot

And got curious

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She searched online and foundwww.sunridesharevanpool.com

Where she was able to post her commute & receive a personalized quote

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Wow! When she received her quote, she realized by sharing costs, she could spend less than she now pays for gas alone as a single occupant

commuter; with no wear & tear on her own car

By sharing with just five other people each would pay$80 a month for their share of the lease & gas, versus the $129

Dianne now pays just for gas

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Although Dianne’s company only has 40 employees she knows the Tech Park has

thousands of commuters

Armed with her commute posted with Sun Rideshare and vRide and knowledge of ridesharing costs from her area, she began spreading the word through her social media

& on the Tech Park campus

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Betty Phyllis

Marie

and Sam

That’s how Dianne found out all these folks live near her and commute to the same vicinity

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Now they all ride comfortably in a new Chevy Traverse

Thanks to Sun Rideshare’s subsidy incentive each is spending about $0.06 a mile to commute

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Versus what AAA’s 2015 cost of driving survey calculates as one’s true “all inclusive” driving costs

by vehicle size

Annual savings? For Dianne it’s over $6,800 a year and her car gets 25 miles per gallon, for others the

savings are even greater!

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Now you know why Jack and Dianne

and…

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Betty Phyllis

Marie

and Sam

And all these folks are smiling

The moral of the story?

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• Urge your colleagues to learn more about ridesharing at www.sunridesharevanpool.com

• It costs nothing• We don’t solicit• We only contact those who want a quote or we’ve matched

with others for car or vanpools• You never know how many neighbors work close to you.

Collectively, you could be saving thousands on your annual commute costs

vRide Contact

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Rick MacNeal520-227-6288

Rick.macneal@vride.comwww.sunridesharevanpool.com

www.vride.comwww.ride.com

Travel Reduction Program & Transit

Transit System in Tucson Area

Sun Tran System

• 253 buses• Serving 43 fixed routes• Wheelchair accessible & bike rack equipped• More than 2,200 bus stops, 960 with shelters• All run on cleaner-burning fuels

• Sun Tran’s Sun Express service makes limited stops to major destinations during peak commuting hours Monday through Friday from these outlying areas:– 101X Golf Links/Harrison to Downtown– 102X Northwest to University of Arizona– 103X Northwest to Downtown– 104X Marana to Downtown– 105X Foothills to Downtown– 107X Oro Valley to Downtown– 108X Broadway/Harrison to Downtown– 109X Catalina Highway to Downtown– 110X Rita Ranch to Downtown– 201X, 202X, 203X Eastside, Northwest, Oro Valley to Aero Park– 312X Oro Valley to Tohono Transit Center

Sun Express

Sun Link Streetcar• Quick & easy travel between University of Arizona,

Main Gate Square, 4th Ave., Downtown & Mercado San Agustin

• From 7 AM to 10 PM on weekdays, vehicles scheduled to arrive at each stop every 10-15 minutes

Sun Shuttle

• Sun Shuttle vehicles connect passengers from outlying communities to Sun Tran services

• Provide transportation within outlying communities– Catalina– Green Valley– Marana– Oro Valley– Sahuarita– San Xavier– Tucson Estates– Southeastern Tucson

Technology

• Cameras on vehicles and at transit centers• Annunciators announce major stops• Online trip planning• Live bus tracking system• Purchase passes online• Load passes onto phone• Calculate cost of commute

Paying for transit• SunGO fare payment system• Free transfers between systems• Full fare on Sun Tran, Sun Link streetcar* and Sun Shuttle

– Cost per Trip = $1.50– 30-Day Pass = $42– Day Pass = $3.50– Annual Pass = $413 (pilot program, starts August 2)

• Full fare on Sun Express Routes– Cost per Trip = $2.00– Express 30-Day Pass = $56

* cash not accepted once on board streetcar

3 Truths and 2 Strategies• Getting more people commuting by transit could

significantly improve air quality & traffic in area• Transit doesn’t work for everyone• For some people transit can work great!

• Your role is not to convince everyone to ride transit but to inform co-workers of options

• By setting up the Get on Board Program at your work, you can make the most impact over time

1. Getting the Word Out

• Low Labor Method: You’ll receive free help for being a part of this webinar

– Monthly email blasts/fliers to employees • Cost of commuting by car, environmental messages,

traffic, stress, parking, etc.

- New Hire Memos• Routes near your site(s)• How your company supports commuting by transit

Sample email message

Getting the Word Out

2. Get on Board Program

• Employers either sell, subsidize or provide transit passes to employees to encourage commuting by transit

• Ask your employer if they providethis benefit

• If not—encourage them to “Get on Board” • View list of participants on www.suntran.com

Get on Board Program

Benefits to organizations•Attract and retain employees

•Reduce parking needs

•Earn a tax deduction

•Satisfy TRP requirements

•Be a part of air quality solution

Get on Board Program

Getting Started

• Contact me at 206-8859• Get on Board survey• Ways to participate• Determine the type of passes

to purchase• Transportation fairs• Ride Guides, system maps,

promotional materials

THANK YOU!