Why Carpool? It's more than just the cost of gas!

Written by Judy Bortman

TransOptions just concluded TripSwitch, a three-week challenge that encouraged motorists to "switch" a solo car ride for one that's smarter.

We developed this free, short-term campaign to motivate commuters to try an energy-efficient or shared ride to work. The idea was to walk, bike or carpool to your destination instead of driving alone. Participants could also combine modes for their trips such as walking or riding a bike to a train station or bus stop.

As if a smarter ride was not incentive enough, we sweetened the challenge with awards and raffle prizes. Participants had multiple chances to qualify to win an array of prizes including an iPod Shuffle and Yurbuds headphones, a FitBit, a solar recharging kit and a number of gift cards ranging from $75 to $250.

It has been said that, "timing is everything." Some months ago when we started planning TripSwitch, motorists were paying about $3.35 per gallon for regular gas. We believed that “switching” to a smarter ride would also lower the cost of commuting even more by saving money on fuel.

About three weeks ago, ironically right around the time TripSwitch started, gas prices started coming down. A gallon of regular gas currently sells for less than $2.90 in many northwest New Jersey towns. What timing!

At TransOptions employer and community events, I regularly ask current and prospective carpool riders why they decide to share a ride. Gas prices are definitely a large part of the equation. About five or six years ago when the price of a gallon of gas hovered around $4.00, our phone was ringing off the hook with people wanting to start carpooling.

Now that gas prices are $1.00+ per gallon lower, carpool riders have told us that they have additional reasons to carpool. Their replies to the question, "Why do you carpool?" consistently reveal that quality of life issues and the overall cost of commuting are also part of the equation.

What collectively matters most is:

• Saving money by sharing commuting costs
• Vehicle wear and tear
• Employer perks (preferred parking, financial incentives)
• Emergency Ride Home (registered carpool riders can receive a free ride home from TransOptions up to twice a year should an emergency arise)
• Camaraderie

I decided to reach out to several carpooling TripSwitch participants to learn what motivated them to share a ride and see if the quality of life hypothesis held up.

"Saving money on gas and reducing wear and tear on my vehicle," was the identical response from three carpoolers; one sought to help the environment.

When asked how frequently they carpool, Tom G. (28 carpool trips totaling 1,120 miles) replied, "every work day if possible."

Helen T. (34 carpool trips totaling 1,034 miles) and Laura P. (20 carpool trips totaling 1,000 miles) also carpool five days a week. For Sonya T. (18 carpool trips totaling 540 miles), three to four days is typical but when feasible, she will share the ride all five workdays.

Were these carpoolers new rideshare recruits or veteran venturers?

"I've been carpooling for 14 years," shared Laura. "About thirteen years," said Tom. Helen and Sonya were the newbies that I talked to, only having carpooled for two years and one year respectively.

"Camaraderie" was also a motivation for rideshare veteran Laura. We then turned to the subject of difficulties or obstacles to their carpooling and how they were handled.

We "worked through any difficulties, and every once in a while, one of us needs to leave and we have taken advantage of the free (emergency) ride home" said Tom.

Similar experiences were shared by the other responders. "The biggest difficulty is the last-minute change of plans," shared Helen.

Laura highlighted the problem of not "meeting on time." Their carpool group faced the issue of "one person needing to leave work early or stay late."

Sonya expressed similar concerns. "A few times one of us has ended up waiting for the other and a few times I had to find another ride home," she said. "Once and only once I used the 'free ride' when I just couldn't get a ride (home)."

Distance from work appears to be a strong motivator for carpool riders I've talked to. Helen, for example, lives 60 miles (one-way) from her office.

That being said, carpooling encompasses aspects beyond mileage, gas prices and vehicle wear and tear. It's also about quality of life and connecting with other people in person. Sharing a ride means the opportunity to share today's news, discuss the weather, check Traffic Alerts and not have to experience traffic delays alone.

Sharing a ride can be a time to wind up for the day, wind down at the end of the day and, if you choose, have continuity about family events and milestones.

With daylight savings ending and winter on the horizon, perhaps you, too, will be motivated to try carpooling and have company for the way home on those dark, cold weeknights.

Is this the year you'll switch your trip?

Our appreciation to all who participated in TripSwitch. Special thanks to Helen T., Laura P., Sonya T. and Tom G. for contributing to this post by sharing their carpool insights and experiences.

Six Must-Have Mobility Apps

Written by Daniel Callas

These free transportation and travel apps will give you all the tools you need to better plan your trips, avoid delays and take advantage of mass transit options. If you don’t already have them ready to go on your phone, give them a shot and see what you’ve been missing. Have any favorites you don’t see here? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

1. Google Maps
(Google Play) (App Store)

This one should really go without saying. Google has the financial strength to outmatch the competitors and it does just that. Maps has gone through several iterations over the years, and with the somewhat-recent acquisition of Waze (check it out, it’s also a good app on its own) and the gradual rollout of Waze’s features, Google continues to provide travelers with a powerful tool to get where they’re going by bike, walk, transit or car and avoid delays in the process.

2. Ridescout
(Google Play) (App Store)

While it’s still expanding, Ridescout is far and away the up-and-comer on the circuit. Aiming to serve as a one-stop-shop for getting around, there’s no doubt this one will gain traction among the less-car-reliant millennial generation. Ridescout allows you to enter in your starting point and destination and will then give you all the options of travel, from Uber and cabs to mass transit and bike share. And it all comes with a time estimate and cost breakdown.

3. Uber
(Google Play) (App Store)

Despite the controversy, Uber is forging ahead, and for good reason. The taxi alternative offers passengers a clean and convenient ride around town, and because drivers use their own vehicles, they can offer the service at a reduced cost from traditional cab companies. Check out our post Tech Innovation Targets Transportation for more on Uber and the battle over rideshare.

4. Transit App
(Google Play) (App Store)

If you only get one mass transit app for your phone, you’d better make it the oh-so-cleverly-named Transit App. Simply enter in your start and end points for your trip, and see what’s available and what your travel itinerary would look like. The app also includes real-time NJ Transit bus information for you to plan your own trip.

5. NJ TRANSIT MyTix
(Google Play) (App Store)

If you only get two mass transit apps for your phone, be sure to grab NJ TRANSIT’s MyTix. MyTix allows you to buy rail tickets and passes at any time and display them from your phone when you’re riding any one of NJT’s trains. Bus tickets can also be purchased through the app for NJT’s southern region. The app allows you to store two credit cards to allow for easy payment when you're on the move.

6. Best Parking
(Google Play) (App Store)

If you’re going to be doing any city driving, this app’s for you. The other apps can get you there, but with Best Parking, you'll be able to find the best garage and lot rates around you all while avoiding circling the block a dozen times looking for a better option. With 105 supported cities you’ll be good to go almost any time you travel.

Keeping Us Safe With Fall Colors

Written by Judy Bortman


There’s something about fall that grabs our attention and stimulates our senses. Is it the aroma of pumpkin spice lattes? The taste of fresh-picked apples? Or the evolving palette of orange we see while walking, biking or driving?

As nature transforms trees in the fall, they morph from a not-being-noticed shade of green to varying shades of red and orange, beckoning us to stop and stare. The trees shout “look at me” before shedding their leaves and, like us, hunkering down for the winter.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve associated orange with fall, pumpkins, and most recently as a safety advocate, a color that helps you stand out and be seen. Orange wasn’t my favorite color in the big box of crayons, but it always got a workout around Halloween.

Besides being a visually beautiful time of year, fall is when daylight hours start to dwindle. It gets dark earlier (groan) making it harder for motorists to see people walking and biking. During fall, we would be wise to take a cue from Mother Nature and don bright-colored clothing so that we, too, are noticed.

It’s hard not to notice the trees and their changing colors, each transitioning at their own pace. In my neighborhood (pictured above), maple trees are leading the fall color parade and adorn the path where I like to walk. It’s as if I’ve gone from watching a black and white movie to a free colorized version overnight.

Oscar Wilde has said that “Life imitates art...” Like fall leaves, orange and bright neon colors are popping up in many products and cultural phenomenon. Of course, thanks to the recent television hit, we all know “Orange is the New Black.”

Walk into any store that sells athletic shoes or apparel. It’s obvious that reflective and neon colors have made their way into merchandising. Just like the bright colors of fall trees, they stand out and for a good reason. They help keep us safe.

A recent and innovative way that life and Mother Nature are imitating art is a company called Glowing Plant. This San Francisco start-up is using genetic engineering to create plants that literally glow.

The goal of Glowing Plants is to provide a sustainable light source and in the process provide a new way that color can help keep us safe. Imagine walking, biking or driving down a dark road that’s illuminated by trees!

The first glowing or bioluminescent plant was made in 1986. Changes in genetic engineering and funding from a recent Kickstarter campaign have quite literally “lit” the way to a brighter future.

According to Glowing Plant, there is potential in using nature as a sustainable energy source that can illuminate and replace expensive street lights.

Take a cue from Mother Nature and Glowing Trees; wear bright or reflective clothing. It will help you be noticed while walking and biking especially now as daylight hours are dwindling. Being seen helps you stay safe.

And there's good reason for all of these oranges and yellows! As we continue to be blanketed in orange thanks to the changing leaves, pumpkins and mums, we remember that as kids we learned that orange comes from mixing red and yellow; so does its meaning.

It's no accident that our signage, signals and emergency vehicles use a variety or reds, yellows and oranges in their color schemes.

Colors have their own meanings and evoke specific feelings and responses without us even knowing it. Traffic lights are an example of color association. We see green and think “go,” see yellow and start to “slow down, approach with caution and prepare to stop” and know that red means “stop.”

This color signal system first started for railways and was then implemented on roads.

Remember that wearing bright or reflective colors helps you to be seen and stay safe. Enjoy being outside during fall and marvel at Mother Nature’s color palette as it evolves during the next few weeks. It’s the best free show in town!

Embracing Challenge

Written by Judy Bortman

When you hear the word "challenge," how do you react? Are you eager to learn more and participate? Or does the word "challenge" make you want to run in the opposite direction?

Deciding whether to participate in a challenge is a timely topic that popped into my mind as we prepare to introduce TripSwitch, a free, short-term campaign encouraging people to switch their solo drive for a trip by walking, biking or carpooling. In addition to the sustainable benefits, all participants become eligible for a number of great prizes.

While preparing TripSwitch marketing materials, several questions came to mind:

• Do people ever change from being challenge-phobic to challenge-friendly?
• Would chances to win great prizes and the excitement of competition incent people to modify their behavior for a few days and “switch” to a trip by walking, biking or carpooling?
• Is altering your commute or mode of transportation too challenging? How could I motivate participation? Would naysayers even consider taking part?
• Are people who live in cities more likely to participate because they have access to a train station or bus stop?
• Does the type of challenge matter? Is a test of physical strength appealing to some while a Jeopardy-style trivia game attracts others?

There are two kinds of people...

I kept coming up with questions faster than I could find or figure out answers. It's my belief that people fall into two distinct camps on some matters, such as those who like anchovies on their pizza and those who don't.

Likewise, I suspect that there are people who like to participate in a challenge and those who prefer to stay away. You can’t do either half-heartedly. Either you participate in a challenge or you don't.

A person switching even a few trips would still be considered a TripSwitch participant and eligible to win prizes. I decided to research successful and noteworthy challenges as a Yoda-like way to understand their appeal, discover how to reach people and apply those insights to TripSwich marketing.

A recent, very visible and popular challenge came to mind. The Ice Bucket Challenge to benefit the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Association took the nation by storm thanks to social media. It attracted celebrities and professional athletes as well as everyday folks who endured being doused with a bucketful of ice water in order to raise awareness (and money!) for a worthy cause.

Note: The Ice Bucket Challenge lives on as a Halloween costume.

Nominating a minimum of three people to take the Ice Bucket Challenge was a component that kept the effort going through the late summer. As a result of the Ice Bucket Challenge the ALS Association increased awareness of its mission and received over $100 million in donations from over 700,000 new donors.

So why did the Ice Bucket Challenge catch on? Several reasons, I believe:

• Good timing - It took place during the summer.
• Short duration – The challenge itself took seconds, with just a bit more time for preparation and social media posting.
• Flexible - Participants could choose where and when they were doused and plan accordingly.
• Challenging only yourself – It was a challenge, not a competition. People challenged themselves - to be dunked or not to be dunked. For most, it was a new experience.
• Helping a cause - Increasing awareness of ALS and generating donations made people feel good which overshadowed a momentary chill.
• Boasting rights – Sharing your video on social media was tangible proof of your personal accomplishment and the reward for an act of kindness.

With a nod to Yoda, I saw parallels for The TripSwitch Challenge and motivating people “to do” not just “try”:

• Good timing – TripSwitch is taking place during October, ideal walking and biking weather.
• Short duration – It lasts only 21 days, from October 6th to 26th.
• Flexible - Participants can choose how, were and when they switch their trip.
• Challenging only yourself – Everyone who participates is a winner. People challenge themselves by taking a different mode of travel and feel good about their accomplishment. The more they switch the more chances to win prizes.
• Helping a cause – Improving the air we breathe and reducing traffic congestion are ways that TripSwitch participation helps sustainability.
• Boasting rights – Sharing your TripSwitch ride on our GoForGood Challenge site and sharing on social media is tangible proof of your personal accomplishment as well as an intrinsic reward.
• Increasing awareness – Participating in TripSwitch increases awareness of trip options and hopefully inspires participants to continue walking, biking or carpooling after the Challenge concludes.

 

Whether you prefer to embrace or avoid challenge, TripSwitch is a safe way to step outside your comfort zone. Plus it’s flexible, sustainable, will make you feel good about yourself and it’s free!

TripSwitch is now underway at GoForGood.TransOptions.org, but you can register at any time. We hope you'll join us!