"Transportation Vision" with Arlington County Board Member
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
August 1, 2013 - Issue 19 Dear Paul, The annual international conference of the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) is always a highlight for those of us in the mobility-management industry. It took place this week in San Antonio, Texas, and Mobility Lab is honored to have received the conference's top award in recognition for our efforts to showcase the groundbreaking efforts of Arlington County Commuter Services and many others. "This is a prestigious award that ACT gives, and we don't award it every year - only if an individual or group truly merits it," said Josh Kavanagh, president of ACT. "Mobility Lab is doing industry-leading work and providing the research to back it up. Even as a local, regional agency, Mobility Lab is striving to help lead and define the mobility-management industry. And it is making the effort to explain it in ways that even people outside of the transportation industry can understand and appreciate," Kavanagh added. Mobility Lab is honored to be recognized by our professional colleagues for our efforts to raise the profile of mobility management. With this award, we pledge to Paul Mackie, director continue working with our ACT colleagues to build awareness for the important of communications, Mobility Lab health, environmental, and societal impacts to be gained from mobility- management programs. Join Us for "Transportation Vision" with Arlington County Board Member Mary Hynes In This Issue Join Us for "Transportation Vision" with Arlington County Board Member Mary Hynes A Triathlete's Approach to Commuting in London Use Only What You Need - The Lesson of Apple Maps, Detroit, and 27-Year-Olds Take Action Now! Quick Links Hot Stat Commuters in the U.S. could save about $1,800 each year if they incorporated carpooling, public transit, or telecommuting into their daily transportation routines. By doing so, they could reduce their total vehicle miles traveled by up to 50 percent. - Natural Resources Defense Council Check out Mobility Lab's Apps Subscribe to Mobility Lab Daily to keep up with the latest transportation research. Mobility Lab In the News Tom Fairchild, director of development, Mobility Lab TransitScreen Wants to Keep D.C. Public Transportation Running On Time - InTheCapital Visualization of Metrorail Station Activity - PlanIt Metro Eating Your Way Through Summer - LidTime If you're in Arlington, Virginia next Tuesday (August 6 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.), please stop in at Mobility Lab for an informal brownbag presentation and discussion with Arlington County Board Member Mary Hynes. She will share with us her vision that guides the leadership roles she plays on multiple regional transportation organizations, including Metro, Region Forward, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. Hynes is a strong supporter of transit, bike, and walk programs, and she has a compelling vision for transportation and the entire Washington D.C. region. We hope to see you at Mobility Lab. Sandwiches and drinks will be provided. For more information and directions, please go here. A Triathlete's Approach to Commuting in London The UK Cycle to Work scheme - which allows employers to loan bicycles and safety equipment to employees tax-free - is undoubtedly one of the best recent health and fitness initiatives by the UK government. Since its introduction in 1999, when it began sluggishly, more and more bikes are being leased every year. There are now tens of providers, all offering bikes at up to a 40- percent discount. One of the very first things that I did when I started working in London three years ago was Ross Middleton, to take full advantage of the scheme and grab London triathlete myself a shiny new bike. and blogger Read more about how I make bicycling to work in London both fun and healthy for myself. Use Only What You Need - The Lesson of Apple Maps, Detroit, and 27-Year-Olds There were two huge announcements in the news recently that I think are more connected than they seem at first glance: Apple Maps announced that it was buying Hopstop and Detroit filed for bankruptcy. They are connected because of what both announcements represent - we are moving more quickly than ever from a car-centric society to a mobility-centric one. Joseph Kopser, CEO and founder, People born in and around 1986 are leading a revolution in society that we RideScout should all pay very close attention to. The future of transportation is an ecosystem of options that provide the full complement of choice for people to use only what they need, when they need it. To read my full take on these interconnections, please go here. Take Action Now! The Senate Finance Committee in Congress has announced that it will reform the tax code by starting with a clean slate. This is important to Mobility Lab readers because the $245 pre-tax benefit for riding public transit is potentially on the chopping block. If that happens, the transit benefit would drop to $125 per month - unfair compared with the $245 monthly parking benefit. Now is your chance to contact your congressional leaders. This website, created by the Association for Commuter Transportation and the American Public Transportation Association, makes it easy, and it very well could mean money in your pocket! Please Send Us Your Feedback We hope Mobility Lab Express, our events, and the research and case studies at our website will be go-to resources for you. In fact, we invite you to share your stories of how mobility improvements have been made in your communities. We'll publish your feedback, and together we'll strengthen the conversation on mobility for all! Simply respond to this email or click here with any thoughts or suggestions. Please check out much more at mobilitylab.org, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Mobility Lab is a research-and-development initiative for "mobility management - moving people instead of cars." Based in Arlington, Virginia - which has one of the largest mobility-management programs in the U.S. and removes 45,000 car trips from the county's roads each work day - Mobility Lab seeks solutions, stories, and partnerships from all over the world. Mobility Lab is funded by Arlington County (Virginia) Commuter Services, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Please feel free to share this newsletter with those who may be interested. .