Smart Trips Austin: Team Training Friday, April 1, 2016 City Hall
Housekeeping Location of bathrooms Snacks and water
Introductions Who are we? Blythe Carter, City of Austin Who are you? Name Organization
Agenda Introduction to Smart Trips Austin Travel Training Walking Biking Transit Reduced Fare ID Program Route Planning
Smart Trips Austin Overview
What is Smart Trips? Communitywide encouragement program Goal: reduce drive-alone trips and increase Walking Biking Carpooling Transit Ridership
The True Cost of a Car Fuel: $1,681.50/year Finance: $699/year Depreciation: $3,654/year Insurance: $1,115/year Maintenance: $766.50/year License/Registration/Taxes: $665/year Tires: $147/year AAA 2015 Cost to Own and Operate a Vehicle
Air Quality Low income and minority populations are disproportionately impacted by air pollution health risks High Toxicity Zone They are concentrated in an area within 330 feet from highways. (Zhu, supra) Pregnant women who live within 500 feet of high traffic areas are prone to birth complications, including premature birth, low birth weight children, and children with medical problems. (Wilhelm & Ritz, 2003) A review of a broad range of studies has correlated early mortality from a wide range of illnesses with living within 330 feet of a high traffic roadway and related exposure to various auto emission substances. (Beelen, et al., 2008) Source Medium Toxicity Zone A Denver study indicated that children living roughly within that distance were eight times as likely to develop leukemia and six times as vulnerable to all types of cancer. (Hulsey, et al., 2004,-par. 1) In another study, children under 5 years of age admitted to hospitals with asthma emergencies were significantly more likely to live within 500 meters (1,640 feet) of a major highway when traffic flow exceeded 24,000 vehicles per hour than those who lived further away or when traffic flow was less. Source
Safety http://metrocosm.com/10- years-of-traffic-accidentsmapped.html 2015 was the deadliest year for Austin pedestrians
Travel Training: Walking
Why Walk? Health Low impact Burns 100 calories/hour 15-20 minutes/mile No pollution No traffic Ricardo B. Brazziell
Walk Score of RundbergLn Walk Score 58 Some errands can be accomplished by foot Transit Score 46 A few nearby public transportation options Bikeable 59 Flat as a pancake, good bike lanes
Walk Safety Cross the street at marked crosswalks and intersections. Before crossing, look left, right, then left again. Use pedestrian pushbuttons. Courtesy of bestreetsmart.net
Walk Safety Begin crossing the street on "Walk" signal. Stay visible after dark and in bad weather. Watch out for trucks and buses backing out of parking spaces and driveways. Courtesy of bestreetsmart.net
Driving Tips Always scan crosswalk and sidewalk before turning Check before backing up Be patient
Walking Questions?
Travel Training: Bicycling
Why Bikes? WHY BIKES? Bicycles are convenient, healthy, pollution-free, and affordable. Driving Alone Cycling Austin Driving time / city mile 4-5 minutes 6-7 minutes Calories burned / mile 23 calories 87 calories CO2 emissions / city mile 450 g CO2 4 g CO2 Cost /month $411 $25
Safety Always ride with traffic, not against it.
Safety: Riding on the Sidewalk Highly discouraged, unless a youth Prohibited in specific areas, like downtown League of American Bicyclists: Sidewalk Riding Photo courtesy of Michael Patrick. 20
Safety: Scan, Signal, Yield Signals to all other road users your intentions Not required if unsafe to take hands off handlebars 21
Safety: Avoid the right hook Photo courtesy of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. 22
Safety: Ride Right All 50 states, including Texas, Transportation Code says that people on bikes are to ride "as far to the right as practicable. *No clear definition of practicable has been identified Photo courtesy of FHWA. 23
Safety: Tips for Drivers Photo courtesy People for Bikes. People on bicycles fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. In Texas, a person on a bicycle has the same rights and duties as a motorist.
Riding in low light situations Be most aware during dusk hours, Fall and Spring seasons 56% of crashes happen between 3pm and midnight (NHTSA) Austin Law: Must have white front light and rear reflector to ride on bicycle at night Can be pulled over by police 25
Ride bright Required: White front light Red rear reflector Recommended: Red rear light Reflective clothing Helmet mounted lights Photo courtesy of Bike Lumen. 26
Be predictable and visible. 27
Unless... Passing another vehicle Turning left Conditions or hazards prevent safe riding Lane is too narrow (less than 14 ) Photo courtesy of Chicago Cartographics. 28
Safety: Austin Safe Passing Law 3 for passenger vehicles 6 for commercial vehicles and buses Applies to trails Not a state-wide ordinance! https://youtu.be/9jj-jhrt2e8 Photo courtesy of Biking Bis. 29
Safety: Wear a helmet Required in Austin for children 17 & under Highly recommended for anyone riding in traffic Photo courtesy of People for Bikes. 31
Safety: Electronic Devices Hand-held electronic devices: Illegal to use in Austin city limits while operating a vehicle or bicycle Headphones: Not illegal, but highly discouraged Photo courtesy of Kurt Bauschardt. 32
Bike Maintenance Community Bike Shops Yellow Bike Project Community Bike Shop educational facility open to anyone who wants to learn about fixing and riding bikes Location: East Side 1216 Webberville Road
Bike Maintenance Community Bike Shops Youth Bike Shop at the East Austin Boys & Girls Club Put on by GhisalloCycling Initiative Location: 901 Thompson St. Austin TX 78702
Austin Bicycle Laws
Questions?
Travel Training: Transit
Planning a trip Types of services Paying your fare Signaling for a stop Integrating bikes & transit Riding rules Transit crash course.
@SMARTTRIPSATX Local Premium Commuter Access Types of service.
Rates
Paying for Your Fare Exact Change No Money Back Day, Week, or Month Passes Swipe through the card reader magnetic stripe down, facing rider Stored Value Card Available in $20 or $40 Insert Stored Value Card into top of farebox Mobile App
Reduced Fare Student ID or Active Military/Reserve ID Upon boarding, show the bus operator your valid school or military ID for half fare
Reduced Fare ID Card Seniors 65 and over. Medicare card holders. Riders with disabilities. (view eligibility guidelines) Students 6-18 who do not have a school ID issued by their school can also apply for the Reduced Fare ID Card.
Reduced Fare ID Card How to Apply 1. Complete Application Pick up the application at the Capital Metro Transit Store 209 West 9th. Street Call (512) 389-7475 to request application be mailed Print from online Online http://www.capmetro.org/rfid/ 2. Return completed application to the Transit Store Three-day processing period 3. Bring Government-issued ID 3 days later in person to the Transit Store to receive ID Costs $3 and good for two years
Asking Bus to Stop When stop approaches, pull the stop cord located across the windows or press the "Stop" button on the aisle poles. On MetroRapid, Stop buttons rather than stop cords
Travel Training: Route Planning
Google Maps Transit Option Bicycling Option
Capital Metro Website
Capital Metro Systems Map
City of Austin Bicycle Map
Capital Metro App
RideScout