NewsHealth

Actions

Campaign works to reduce use of individuals’ cars for transportation

Posted at 12:34 PM, Mar 28, 2012
and last updated 2012-03-28 14:34:22-04

A campaign working to increase the number of people biking, walking, carpooling and using public transportation to get places is kicking off in Salt Lake City.

SmartTrips targets individuals and provides bus routes, bike trail maps and carpooling information to people looking to make a change.  The program also has come incentives to encourage participation.

In Portland, SmartTrips is given credit for reducing the number of single occupancy trips by 18.4 percent.

The vision is to make Salt Lake City a modern city, where you don't have to depend on your car to get where you are going.

"We have a public transportation system that gives a lot of choice.  We have an increasing number of bike lanes that give a lot of choice.  We are trying to make our neighborhoods more walkable, so that people have that choice," said Luke Garrott, city council member.

The SmartTrips program runs from April 1 through October 31.

For more information, please visit Salt Lake City Green's guide to a sustainable city.