"Pick a day, any day. Rideshare is the easy way." Southland commuters will again hear the popular jingle ACT International Conference ringing from their favorite radio stations starting in Inland Rideshare Week September. kick-off The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) renewed its commitment to promote Metro Rideshare Week ridesharing on the air with the final leg of the $1 million kick-off campaign that it launched a year ago. Radio spots will air...Full story More events California's biggest rideshare event of the Don't have a big year—Rideshare Week 2005—is Oct. 3-7. budget? Find out about kick-off events happening Discover how to this month...as well as how you can get do rideshare prizes, posters, pledge cards & everything promotion on the cheap with you need to run a Rideshare Week free prizes, low- campaign at your work site. Full story cost ideas and great web downloads. Full story • ACT conference to celebrate two decades in transportation The "Get Home On Us" program gets extended...& more • Dial #399 for motorist aid Guaranteed Ride Home news. • AQMD updates Rule 2202 and introduces new Full story fees • Ventura County offers new bikeways map • Metro Blue Line ridership hits all-time high • Want past issues of CommuteSmart News? Get news geared to commuters that you can forward to employees or incorporate into your own rideshare newsletter "Pick a day, any day. Rideshare is the easy way." Southland commuters will again hear the popular jingle ringing from their favorite radio stations starting in September. The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) renewed its commitment to promote ridesharing on the air with the final leg of the $1 million campaign that it launched a year ago. Radio spots will air Sept. 19 - Oct. 9 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the drive-time commute. "We are committed to helping commuters realize the benefits of sharing the ride—lower travel cost, less wear and tear on their cars, and perhaps most importantly, less time on the road and more time enjoying life," says MSRC Chair Gwenn Norton- Perry. "Studies show that people who try ridesharing enjoy it—enough that a full 60% continue ridesharing." The campaign is slated to lead into and continue through the annual California Rideshare Week event, which is Oct. 3-7. A Broad-Based Campaign Will Reach Millions More than 300 spots will run on top-ranked Los Angeles and Orange County radio stations KROQ, KOST, KLSX, KFI, KTWV, KLOS and KBIG. That translates to reaching 42% of adults more than five times each over the three-week period. In the Inland Empire—where commercials will run on KOLA and KCAL—nearly a fourth of adults will hear the rideshare message an average of seven times each. Commercials will also run on Spanish-language stations KLAX, KLVE, KBUE, KHJ, KWIZ, KLXX and KAEH, as well as Chinese radio station KAZN. In addition to the commercials, traffic reporters will remind commuters to rideshare as part of their on-air reports. The "Pick a Day, Any Day" campaign urges listeners to choose at least one day during the week to rideshare instead of driving alone. It highlights personal benefits such as saving time and money, as well as pointing out how ridesharing contributes to cleaner air and less traffic congestion for all of Southern California. The ads also serve to drive commuters to the CommuteSmart.info web site—a regional resource that includes carpool and vanpool matching, transit routing, real-time traffic updates, carpool lane information and more. In addition, commuters can call 1.800.COMMUTE for ridesharing assistance. Rideshare Week 2005 is Oct. 3-7. Here, find out about kick-off events happening this month—as well as how you can get prizes, posters, pledge cards & everything you need to run a Rideshare Week campaign at your work site. Employer Events & Information Los Angeles County Inland Empire Orange County Ventura County Metro will host a kick-off Join the stars at a kick-off Orange County employers Ventura County will celebrate workshop for employers "premiere" at Dave & will have a chance to learn the "art of ridesharing" by Aug. 23 at Metro Busters in Ontario Mills, about Rideshare Week—as featuring the award-winning headquarters in downtown Aug. 16, 11 a.m. – 1:30 well as the improvements artwork from local students in Los Angeles. Learn how to p.m. Play a starring role in made to the county's its Rideshare Week campaign plan and develop a work the annual Rideshare Week Commuter Connection materials. site promotion, plus pick up challenge between Riverside program—at a workshop your Rideshare Week Tool and San Bernardino county and kick-off on Wednesday, Look for a campaign kit in the Kit. employers while enjoying a August 31, 9 a.m.-1130 mail in mid-September. Kits gala luncheon including a.m. at the Orange County will include flyers, giveaway Each Tool Kit includes valuable information, prizes TransportationAuthority items and an event t-shirt. posters, photocopiable and entertainment. Plus (OCTA) offices in Orange. pledge cards (in English and dress as your favorite movie The workshop will feature You’ll also receive a sample Spanish), "how to" star & you might take home Rideshare Week marketing pledge card—additional pledge marketing tips and a prize. tips and techniques to raise cards can be downloaded at rideshare fair information. employee participation. goventura.org Promotional materials such Campaign materials and as posters, clip art and Campaign materials will Rideshare Week in Ventura Rideshare Week clip art will pledge cards will be shipped ship to work sites in Orange County is sponsored by Ventura also be available for UPS to employers the week County mid-September and County Transportation download at metro.net of Aug. 22. will include posters, clip art Commission and the Ventura and more. You'll also be County Air Pollution Control Rideshare Week in Los Rideshare Week in the able to download campaign District. Angeles County is Inland Empire is sponsored materials at www.octa.net sponsored by Metro and by Riverside County For details, call Alan Holmes at corporate donations. Transportation Commission, Rideshare Week in Orange 805.642.1591, ext. 119. San Bernardino County is sponsored by For details, call Transportation Commission OCTA. For details, contact 213.922.2811. and corporate donations. Don Bernstein, OCTA For details, call rideshare manager at 1.866.IECS4HELP. 714.560.5386 or [email protected] Look for Rideshare Week updates in September’s CommuteSmart News. • ACT Conference to Celebrate Two Decades in Transportation The 2005 International Conference of the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) is Sept. 18-21 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. For a complete list of daily sessions, tours, events and speakers, go to actweb.org. The conference celebrates ACT's 20th anniversary, and organizers are asking members to help recreate two decades in transportation by sharing photos from previous conferences, workshops, or events; newspaper or newsletter articles; and even old stories and experiences. Send items to Andrea Beshear at [email protected] (in digital format if possible). • Dial #399 for Motorist Aid Motorists in Los Angeles County can now dial #399 to request Metro Freeway Service Patrol tow service, report freeway road hazards, contact their auto club and report freeway damage or needed repair. The service is staffed by English and Spanish speaking operators and is accessible by cellphone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Want to let employees know about this new service? Download a flyer (English/Spanish) at metro.net • AQMD Updates Rule 2202 and Introduces New Fees The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AMQD) will soon post an updated version of Rule 2202—the air basin’s trip-reduction regulation—on its web site. The rule is expected to contain minor modifications. In addition, the agency introduced a new fee structure as of July 1. For details, call the AQMD at 909.936.3271 or visit them on line at aqmd.gov • Ventura County Offers New Bikeways Map Want to know where you can bike in Ventura County? Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) has updated its bikeways map. With a fresh, eye-popping design, it includes the latest in bikeway information, rules of the road and safety tips—plus historic Ventura County landmarks. For a copy of the map, expected to be available as of Aug. 1, call VCTC at 800.438.1112 or visit them on-line at goventura.org • Metro Blue Line Ridership Hits All-Time High Ridership on the Metro Blue Line reached record highs recently, with more than 76,000 average weekday boardings—the highest since the 22-mile rail line between Los Angeles and Long Beach opened in 1990. The increase may be partially a result of higher gasoline prices, according to Metro. •Want Past Issues of CommuteSmart News? Click on the "previous issues" icon above to download PDFs of past issues of CommuteSmart News or go to CommuteSmart.info Don’t have a big budget? Discover how to do rideshare promotions on the cheap with free prizes, low-cost ideas and great web downloads. 5 Ways to Get Free Prizes 5 Low-Cost Ideas 5 No-Cost Downloads 1. Ask local merchants. The 1. Make rideshare information part 1. Monthly rideshare snack shop in your lobby of your new-hire orientation. newsletter for may donate a free lunch. 2. Post a bulletin board in a high- commuters—Every issue of The gift shop in the mini- profile area, and be sure to CommuteSmart News includes a mall down the street may update it regularly.