On May 5 the Transit for Livable Communities board voted to provide funding to St. Paul Smart Trips for a residential social marketing program in the Union Park neighborhood of St. Paul. This program is based on an effective model of targeted outreach to encourage biking, walking, and transit. Smart Trips completed a similar program last year in the Summit-University neighborhood of St. Paul; see the final report of that effort here.
The Bike Walk Advisory Committee and TLC Board were very supportive of this investment for our pilot. I am most excited about the facet that will extend programming and outreach into the cycling/walking challenge seasons (fall/winter/spring). Can we convince people to extend their nonmotorized travel into wind breaker and long underway weather? For those opting to return to more sheltered travel after a glorious summer, can we encourage them to jump on the bus instead of into their car? St. Paul Smart Trips has included significant opportunity to test messaging and measure results, so stay tuned as the story unfolds. If you live in Union Park, be sure to register for the programs beginning in a few months. The cherry on top…the Marshall Avenue project funded by Bike Walk Twin Cities in the heart of Union Park will be constructed this summer – the perfect ped/bike red carpet for residents.
Bike Walk Twin Cities will continue to enhance educational, outreach, and behavior change aspects of our program. To learn more about social marketing in other areas see projects in Portland, OR, Sausalito, CA and Columbia, MO.
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