Encouragement Campaigns

What stops the 71 percent of Americans who say they would like to ride more from actually getting on bicycles to do it? The lack of good bike infrastructure is a major reason, but so are a host of other obstacles, many of which come down to simple questions about how to dress, how to lock a bike to a rack or which streets to take to get from A to B. Personal encouragement programs can provide the answers, as cities from Copenhagen to Portland have found out.

These campaigns start by urging would-be bicycle commuters to consider riding more often, especially people who may not have ridden bikes regularly since they were kids but still find the idea appealing. Transportation ambassadors then follow-up with personalized solutions to their specific concerns via one-on-one conversations. It’s like having a personal transportation coach.

Building confidence and skills for navigating the city

Portland’s Smart Trips campaign begins with fun community events and a mailing to households asking about their interest in biking, walking or taking transit. Anyone interested can meet with a friendly transportation ambassador who offers maps and can field questions about how to get started and choose the best routes. They will even escort first-time bike commuters to work, showing how easy it can be.

(left) In Portland neighborhoods served by the Smart Trips campaign, single- occupancy vehicle use dropped by nine percent. Photo: City of Portland









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