Travelwise
TravelWisdom: Each car trip costs the public 43 per cent more than a trip by public transit. More than 185,000 car trips are taken every afternoon rush hour in Ottawa. Source: The Costs of Travel in Ottawa, 2003. TravelWise is a City of Ottawa program to tame traffic congestion and make the most of our transportation infrastructure. TravelWise works with local employers, schools, community groups and the general public to make various travel options more attractive than driving alone. These ways of getting around include walking, cycling, transit, in-line skating, and carpooling. The program also encourages non-travel options like telework and compressed work weeks, and shifts in travel time to outside of rush hour. What's in it for me? It costs big money to build our major city streets - anywhere from $900,000 to $2,000,000 per kilometre plus the cost of the land. With 400,000 more people expected to live in Ottawa by 2021, bringing with them additional cars, there's going to be a great deal of pressure on our transportation system. The City and its taxpayers can't afford to build more roads for all of these cars, and in some cases there isn't room to build, even if there was money. Instead, commuters are encouraged to get around by means that save everyone money and time. Travelling by foot, bicycle, public transit or carpool saves the City, the commuter and the taxpayer cash. The City and its taxpayers can't afford to build more roads for all of these cars, and in some cases there isn't room to build, even if there was money. Instead, commuters are encouraged to get around by means that save everyone money and time. Travelling by foot, bicycle, public transit or carpool saves the City, the commuter and the taxpayer cash. Reducing the number of cars on our roads is also better for our health and the health of our environment. Active modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling and inline skating keep fitness levels up and health care costs down. Public transit, carpooling and telework also help to reduce the number of pollutants that come out of local tailpipes, keeping our air cleaner. How does it work? The TravelWise program helps to make these travel options more attractive by providing the tools to encourage more people to use them. Services include the following:
Success Story Peter C. Mason, a Bruce Timmermans Cycling Award recipient, is dedicated to the promotion of cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle, a functional city and an environmentally, low-impact, practical mode of transportation. Peter cycle commutes 40 kilometres each day from his home in Centretown to his workplace in Shirley's Bay on all but the very coldest and snowiest days of the year. Furthermore, the City of Ottawa recognizes the importance of being a leader in the community, and works to help its own employees choose ways of getting to work that have less of an impact on the transportation system and our community. For more information, or to start a TravelWise program at your workplace or school, phone 3-1-1, or visit ottawa.ca/travelwise or e-mail travelwise@ottawa.ca. Getting Around Travelling to work, school and the mall is something we may do all the time, but no single way of getting there is best for every trip. Combining your options or looking at new ones might be a great way to save money on fuel, better your health, travel more safely and even help the environment! Walking, inline skating or cycling, instead of using the car, can improve your health and help keep money in your pocket. For longer trips, public transit and carpooling are convenient ways to reduce travel costs, air pollution and smog. There are still other ways to drive less, like working from home or using the internet to shop or do errands. [ top ] |
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