Drive Less Connect is a statewide rideshare program funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation and administered locally by Commute Options. Drive Less Connect seeks to reduce individual car trips – by carpools and other modes – as an integral part of a larger solution to addressing traffic congestion. Users looking for carpool matches or a bike buddy, or to log trips and track savings, simply register at www.drivelessconnect.com. (Users can also connect using Facebook).
The new program report by Drive Less Connect captured data logged by participants throughout ODOT region 4 (but mostly from Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes counties) from the program’s inception in September, 2011 through the end of February, 2013.Miles saved are computer-calculated; users input their start and end locations and the miles are tabulated for them.
The total number of miles logged by 1334 new users covers all modes of travel. Trips are broken down into bike (59,070 trips), bus (3163), carpool (63,412 trips), compressed work week (1078 trips), other (584 trips), telework (7537 trips), vanpool (588 trips), and walk (15,038 trips).
“These alternative trips result in an astounding savings of carbon dioxide emitted, gasoline used and money spent,” says Kim Curley, community outreach director for Commute Options. During the 18-month period reported, over 1.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution are estimated to not have gone into the air, nearly 80,000 gallons of gasoline were not used and approximately $560,000 was saved at the gas pump.
Drive Less Connect also performed 854 carpool searches during this period. Though most often used for workday commuting, carpools can be used for traveling anywhere around town, whether it is to the library, school, classes or lessons, play dates, parties, or any other planned event.
Users from throughout Central Oregon are encouraged to sign up, start tracking and start saving! Registering at www.drivelessconnect.comonly takes a few minutes, and accounts can be used immediately upon verification. All information is also kept private; account holders are personally in control of how their information is shared.
About Commute Options
Commute Options promotes choices that reduce the impacts of driving alone. Through active transportation choice, Commute Options encourages healthy individuals, a clean environment, and a strong economy. Commute Options represents transportation options in our community by educating citizens, businesses and government about the value of carpooling, vanpooling, walking, bicycling, teleworking and using public transportation. For more information, visit www.commuteoptions.org.
