“Tech Talks” Recap: Energizing Commute Alternatives
Hyperloop commutes are a ways off, but these technology innovations are already revolutionizing corporate transportation.
WeDriveU joined local employers and transportation evangelists at “TECH Talks,” an annual event on March 9th in San Francisco hosted by Commute.org, our local Transportation Demand Management (TDM) agency. The event showcased technologies energizing commute alternatives and touched on everything from autonomous vehicles to carpooling.
We caught up with WeDriveU Customer Success Manager David Zyck after the event. Here are some common themes he uncovered in the presentations:
1. Rise of Mobility as a Service
Following opening remarks from Commute.org Executive Director John Ford and City of South San Francisco Council Member Rich Garbarino, Lauren Isaac with WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff detailed how the “Sharing Economy” is influencing the shift away from driving alone, and how new technologies like hyperloop and drones will reshape how we move people and goods. City of San Mateo Deputy City Manager Kathy Kleinbaum highlighted local mobility successes such as “Connect San Mateo” incentivizing carpoolers, and “Bay Bikes” San Mateo Bike Share, a smart bike sharing pilot.
David tells us, “A key theme and opportunity centers on embracing Mobility as a Service to organize multi-modal data in one place, seamlessly intertwining things like routing applications, heat maps, incentives and payments.”
Click image above to download event slides from Commute.org’s website
2. TDM goes real-time
The sessions also highlighted how instant data insights are fueling high-impact TDM strategies.
Speaker Brian Shaw elaborated on using dashboards and data visualization at Stanford University, a site governed by a general use permit for development and growth. By testing scenarios, investing in outreach to prospective riders through hew hire presentations and eliminating free parking, the organization reduced parking demand, mitigated peak hour trips and achieved a decline in single occupancy vehicles.
3. Galvanizing bicycle ridership – Data’s equally important when employees commute on two wheels. Google’s Lucy Tice described how the company sparked participation in their bike-to-work program by building an awareness strategy around isolating the most likely participants within the bicycling population. Segments noted in her slides included:
- Strong and fearless (1.1%)
- Enthused and confident (7%)
- Interested but concerned (60%)
- No way, no how (33%)
The program combined rewards, community-building and awareness campaigns, with participation incentivized and tracked using a platform from our friends at RideAmigos.
Bicycle programs are a popular way for WeDriveU clients to get to, from and around workplaces, with employees often combining them with other alternative commute modes, like WeDriveU Last Mile shuttles.
Lucy certainly sparked timely ideas with #BikeToWorkDay around the corner.
Get Ready to Rethink Your Commute
Special thanks to Commute.org for putting on an informative event with actionable advice supporting their tagline “Rethink Your Commute.” We appreciate their efforts raising awareness about commuting solutions in San Mateo County, California, WeDriveU’s home for nearly 30 years.
Download presentations from the event and access more resources by visiting Commute.org at http://www.commute.org/techtalks.
About the author: Joanna Rustin is Vice President of, Marketing at WeDriveU. Follow WeDriveU on Twitter at @WeDriveU.
