| Smart Commute - Why? |
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Smart Commute bike
commuting classes
commuting classes
Bingham walks and bikes
to school
to school
A few reasons to try Smart Commuting...
We only have one earth. Smart Commuting is a way to fight global
warming and improve local air quality conditions. (In recent years, the
Tri-County has fallen below the EPA air quality standards; most people
now agree that the planet is heating up fast, due to humans burning fossil
fuels like petroleum and coal.)
We only get one body per life. We have to take care of ourselves. Smart
Commuting gets you moving whether by bike, by foot, by walking to the
bus stop, by walking further to your office from your carpool location.
Adequate physical movement is a key element in cardiovascular health,
mental health, sleeping well, and maintaining a healthy weight. (A
recent Ingham County Health Department study found that 2 in 3
Ingham County adults do not engage in moderate physical activity at
least 3 times a week; 2 in 3 are overweight, and 1 in 5 are obese.)
Spending on gas, physical inactivity, and long commutes are hurting our
local economy. In Michigan, 75 cents on every dollar spent on gas leaves
our state economy and contributes to creating wealth for out-of-state
parties and interests. Spending "gas dollars" for purchases that keep
Michigan's economy healthy and growing is an important equation for
people to realize.
Further, the economic result of a sedentary lifestyle in this region is
estimated at $390 million per year, when taking into account medical
costs of obesity-related illnesses, and productivity and workers' comp.
According to an article in Lansing State Journal in February 2005,
studies have linked commute-related stress to increased physical and
mental problems, higher use of health insurance and decreased
productivity.
We only have one earth. Smart Commuting is a way to fight global
warming and improve local air quality conditions. (In recent years, the
Tri-County has fallen below the EPA air quality standards; most people
now agree that the planet is heating up fast, due to humans burning fossil
fuels like petroleum and coal.)
We only get one body per life. We have to take care of ourselves. Smart
Commuting gets you moving whether by bike, by foot, by walking to the
bus stop, by walking further to your office from your carpool location.
Adequate physical movement is a key element in cardiovascular health,
mental health, sleeping well, and maintaining a healthy weight. (A
recent Ingham County Health Department study found that 2 in 3
Ingham County adults do not engage in moderate physical activity at
least 3 times a week; 2 in 3 are overweight, and 1 in 5 are obese.)
Spending on gas, physical inactivity, and long commutes are hurting our
local economy. In Michigan, 75 cents on every dollar spent on gas leaves
our state economy and contributes to creating wealth for out-of-state
parties and interests. Spending "gas dollars" for purchases that keep
Michigan's economy healthy and growing is an important equation for
people to realize.
Further, the economic result of a sedentary lifestyle in this region is
estimated at $390 million per year, when taking into account medical
costs of obesity-related illnesses, and productivity and workers' comp.
According to an article in Lansing State Journal in February 2005,
studies have linked commute-related stress to increased physical and
mental problems, higher use of health insurance and decreased
productivity.
Don't just take our word for it! Check out the following
news stories highlighting all the reasons to think about
getting around without your car whenever you can:
- April 16, 2007 New Yorker Magazine interviewed Robert Putnam, a Harvard political scientist who
studied the connection between commuting by car and happiness:
"There is a simple rule of thumb: Every ten minutes of commuting [by car] results in ten percent
fewer social connections. Commuting is connected to social isolation, which causes unhappiness."
news stories highlighting all the reasons to think about
getting around without your car whenever you can:
- April 16, 2007 New Yorker Magazine interviewed Robert Putnam, a Harvard political scientist who
studied the connection between commuting by car and happiness:
"There is a simple rule of thumb: Every ten minutes of commuting [by car] results in ten percent
fewer social connections. Commuting is connected to social isolation, which causes unhappiness."
- Lansing City Pulse article on Smart Commute '06 - click here
- June 2006 State News Story - http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=30304
- - Lansing City Pulse cover story on Smart Commute '05 - http://archives.lansingcitypulse.
com/050511/index.asp
- - State News Article on Smart Commute '05 -http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?
pk=30116
Did you know… Nine billion gallons of fuel are wasted in traffic each year? That's 800 times the amount of oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez. (SmartCommute) |
| ©2004 Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council P.O. Box 17164, Lansing, Michigan 48901-7164 (517) 214-5684 jessicayorko@sustainablesolutions.biz |
| Smart Commute - Prepare |
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Smart Commute bike
commuting classes
commuting classes
Mothers walking the
riverwalk
riverwalk
Smart Commuting for fun
and fitness
and fitness
Smart Commuting by bus
Mayor Virg Benero walks
Bingham students to
school
Bingham students to
school
Below are some of the different modes of Smart Commuting, and links to
additional information on each.
As you scroll down this page, you'll find information and resources on:
Walking to Work: obviously only practical if you live near your workplace--
most people find it takes too much time to walk more than two miles to
work.
That said, have you considered living closer to work?
If you work at MSU or in East Lansing, you'll have no problem finding a
beautiful home close to campus. East Lansing neighborhoods great for
anyone-- including young people, families, and empty-nesters.
If you work in downtown Lansing and haven't checked out downtown
housing in a while, it's time to check! Times have changed, and Lansing
urban area is again becoming an attractive place for young people,
families, and empty-nesters. Click here to learn about a number of
exciting new school and housing projects in and around downtown
Lansing.
Bicycle Commuting: works for most people who live 15 miles or less from their workplace and can
identify safe routes to work and kid drop-off locations. Even if you live farther, you can build up to a
longer commute over time, or drive/take transit for part of your route.
You'll be surprised that bicycle commuting doesn't add that much extra time to your commute.
You'll also be surprised at how much energy you'll have when you get to work and when you get
back home. It's a very energizing mode of transportation, as well as relaxing. It gives you a chance
to move your body, increase your cardiovascular strength, and "smell the flowers".
It will also save you a bundle of money. The average cost of keeping an automobile running for a
year is $3,000. For a bicycle, it's less than $300 annually. (Those numbers don't include what you
pay for parking!)To calculate how much money YOU could save, calories you could burn, and
pollution you could prevent,click here.
For Smart Commute '06, we have developed a number of tools and resources to help you begin
bicycle commuting. They include:
Naturally, there are some folks who won't be able to bicycle commute each and every day. But if
you even do it once in a while, you'll definitely feel the difference.
Telecommuting: working from home or a satellite office is another option that you may be able to
work out with your employer. The Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina, which employs
38,000 people, started what is now one of the nation's most robust smart commute programs. The
most popular commute alternative in the RTP is telecommuting, and it has had the most impact on
reducing traffic congesting and improving air quality. Below are the benefits that the RTP's Smart
Commute program has identified:
Employee benefits:
Employer benefits:
The RTP has developed a great manual that employees will want to have in hand when talking to
employers about this option. Click here to view (PDF).
Carpooling: particularly effective for those commuting more than 20 miles. It will save you money,
give you a break from driving, and save parking hassles. It will also give you time to spend on a
hobby like reading or knitting, or give you more time to sleep or socialize.
Check out the Clean Commute Options Program at CATA for help finding someone to carpool with
- click here or call 517-393-7433 or email cleancommute@cata.org.
Vanpooling: also great if you are commuting more than 20 miles each way. Benefits are very
similar to carpooling. In Michigan, we have the MichiVan program, developed by the Michigan
Department of Transportation (MDOT).
Basics of how it works: one person volunteers to be the Primary Driver of the van and is allowed to
ride free. Riders are assessed a monthly fee. Commuter vanpools are open to the public. Check
for available routes and call MichiVan for more details (click here).
Contact MichiVan at 1-800-VAN-RIDE (800-826-7433) to find out more information. If you are
unable to find a current route, click here (PDF) to learn how you can start your own commuter
vanpool group.
Riding the bus: get some exercise on your way to the bus stop, spend time reading or relaxing on
the bus, save money on gas and parking, and get some more exercise after you get off the bus.
The Capital Area Transit Authority offers 39 routes, as well as curb-to-curb service for rural
residents.
Too much of a hike to the bus stop nearest you? Consider bicycling to the stop and loading your
bike onto the front of the bus.
To give you better links to specific pages on the CATA website, important phone numbers, and bus
safety information, Smart Commute '06 has developed a special bus commuter info page (click
here).
Or, for personal assistance, check out the Clean Commute Options Program at CATA by calling
517-393-7433 or email cleancommute@cata.org.
additional information on each.
As you scroll down this page, you'll find information and resources on:
- Walking to Work and Living Closer to Work
- Bicycle Commuting
- Telecommuting
- Carpooling
- Vanpooling
- Riding the Bus
Walking to Work: obviously only practical if you live near your workplace--
most people find it takes too much time to walk more than two miles to
work.
That said, have you considered living closer to work?
If you work at MSU or in East Lansing, you'll have no problem finding a
beautiful home close to campus. East Lansing neighborhoods great for
anyone-- including young people, families, and empty-nesters.
If you work in downtown Lansing and haven't checked out downtown
housing in a while, it's time to check! Times have changed, and Lansing
urban area is again becoming an attractive place for young people,
families, and empty-nesters. Click here to learn about a number of
exciting new school and housing projects in and around downtown
Lansing.
Bicycle Commuting: works for most people who live 15 miles or less from their workplace and can
identify safe routes to work and kid drop-off locations. Even if you live farther, you can build up to a
longer commute over time, or drive/take transit for part of your route.
You'll be surprised that bicycle commuting doesn't add that much extra time to your commute.
You'll also be surprised at how much energy you'll have when you get to work and when you get
back home. It's a very energizing mode of transportation, as well as relaxing. It gives you a chance
to move your body, increase your cardiovascular strength, and "smell the flowers".
It will also save you a bundle of money. The average cost of keeping an automobile running for a
year is $3,000. For a bicycle, it's less than $300 annually. (Those numbers don't include what you
pay for parking!)To calculate how much money YOU could save, calories you could burn, and
pollution you could prevent,click here.
For Smart Commute '06, we have developed a number of tools and resources to help you begin
bicycle commuting. They include:
- Bicycle commuting preparation information (equipment, traffic rules, what to wear/ how to
stay gorgeous, etc). - Bicycle Commuting Lessons
- Bicycle safety information.
- Low-traffic bicycle routes in the capital area.
- Bicycle Parking information.
- Local bicycle clubs and other bicycling resource organizations.
- Bicycle repair info.
Naturally, there are some folks who won't be able to bicycle commute each and every day. But if
you even do it once in a while, you'll definitely feel the difference.
Telecommuting: working from home or a satellite office is another option that you may be able to
work out with your employer. The Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina, which employs
38,000 people, started what is now one of the nation's most robust smart commute programs. The
most popular commute alternative in the RTP is telecommuting, and it has had the most impact on
reducing traffic congesting and improving air quality. Below are the benefits that the RTP's Smart
Commute program has identified:
Employee benefits:
- Increased job satisfaction
- Increased productivity as a result of continuous, uninterrupted work time. (click here to view
a graph showing telecommuter productivity, and a discussion on productivity and
telecommuting) - Flexibility to manage work and family life schedule
- Reduced absenteeism
- Financial savings
- Reduced traffic congestion
- Improved air quality
- Reduced car maintenance
Employer benefits:
- Increased employee productivity
- Improved employee morale
- Expanded hiring opportunities
- Improved recruitment and retention of employees
- Reduced absenteeism
- Increased compliance with commute trip reduction policies
- Emergency readiness
- Expanded parking space
- Reduced need for office space
- Financial savings
- Reduced traffic congestion
- Improved air quality
The RTP has developed a great manual that employees will want to have in hand when talking to
employers about this option. Click here to view (PDF).
Carpooling: particularly effective for those commuting more than 20 miles. It will save you money,
give you a break from driving, and save parking hassles. It will also give you time to spend on a
hobby like reading or knitting, or give you more time to sleep or socialize.
Check out the Clean Commute Options Program at CATA for help finding someone to carpool with
- click here or call 517-393-7433 or email cleancommute@cata.org.
Vanpooling: also great if you are commuting more than 20 miles each way. Benefits are very
similar to carpooling. In Michigan, we have the MichiVan program, developed by the Michigan
Department of Transportation (MDOT).
Basics of how it works: one person volunteers to be the Primary Driver of the van and is allowed to
ride free. Riders are assessed a monthly fee. Commuter vanpools are open to the public. Check
for available routes and call MichiVan for more details (click here).
Contact MichiVan at 1-800-VAN-RIDE (800-826-7433) to find out more information. If you are
unable to find a current route, click here (PDF) to learn how you can start your own commuter
vanpool group.
Riding the bus: get some exercise on your way to the bus stop, spend time reading or relaxing on
the bus, save money on gas and parking, and get some more exercise after you get off the bus.
The Capital Area Transit Authority offers 39 routes, as well as curb-to-curb service for rural
residents.
Too much of a hike to the bus stop nearest you? Consider bicycling to the stop and loading your
bike onto the front of the bus.
To give you better links to specific pages on the CATA website, important phone numbers, and bus
safety information, Smart Commute '06 has developed a special bus commuter info page (click
here).
Or, for personal assistance, check out the Clean Commute Options Program at CATA by calling
517-393-7433 or email cleancommute@cata.org.
"That was so much fun. I really wouldn't have tried it without your program/ plan. I have two kids going to two different schools and I dropped them off and got to work with a sense of adventure. It only took me 30 minutes more than normal. I was surprised! Thanks!" Amy of East Lansing on bike commuting during Smart Commute '05 |
Smart Commute bike
commuting classes
commuting classes
Bingham walks and bikes
to school
to school
Bike lanes on MSU
campus
campus
