Evaluating employer programs encouraging the use of alternate transportation modes: Two studies
✍ Scribed by Lou McClelland; Mary B. Marks; Millie Eidson; Stuart W. Cook
- Book ID
- 104642318
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Year
- 1981
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 503 KB
- Volume
- 10
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0049-4488
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Since 1976, major Denver metropolitan area firms have been required to encourage employees to use mass transit, carpooling, bicycling, and other "alternate transportation modes" to commute to work. The encouragement programs of 36 firms were clearly associated with greater use of alternate transportation modes, with the portion of variance in alternate transportation use explained by differences in employer programs of approximately 15%. The effects of the programs on deterring alternate mode users from returning to solo driving are consistently weaker than their effects on persuading drivers to try alternate transportation modes initially. Recommendations for the conduct of alternate transportation encouragement programs are made, based on these and other results. In addition, two recommendations are made concerning the evaluation of encouragement programs: that aggregate percentage change in alternate transportation use should not be used as the sole measure of success, and that environmental variables such as the availability of and pressure for use of alternate transportation modes should be measured and controlled.
In the United States, local and State governments have begun a number of programs designed to reduce the energy consumption or environmental pollution accompanying urban travel. One type of program is aimed at
The authors gratefully acknowledge a grant from the University of Colorado Council on Research and Creative Work, whose help made these studies possible. The Air Pollution Control Division of the State of Colorado was consistently and immeasurably helpful. The editoiial assistance of Elizabeth Farrell is also acknowledged. Co-author Mary Beth Marks currently works at the