Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Don't drive? Get your free body piercing
The city of Portland is spending $100,000 to give its residents coupons for such things as dog manicures and body piercings if they will walk or bicycle to the shops rather than drive. The city is also getting $160,000 for this program from various businesses, mainly two of the region's major hospitals, Kaiser and Providence. The program also gves away umbrellas, pedometers, and children's bicycle helmets.
"We don't expect people to make major lifestyle changes," says one city official. "What we’re looking for are small changes. If everyone could drive once or twice less each week, it will make a huge difference." This article quotes a city report claiming that a similar program in Southwest Portland reduced auto trips by 9 percent and miles driven by 12 percent. Now it is targeting North and Southeast Portland. For more information about this new program, go to the city's transportation web page.
I looked up the city report (3.3 MB). It claims that driving was reduced from 85 to 80 percent of trips relative to a control group, while transit increased from 5 to 7 percent and walking/cycling increased from 10 to 13 percent. This is based on surveys conducted six months to a year after implementing the program, so the city doesn't know if these changes are temporary or will be sustained any longer than a few months.
"We don't expect people to make major lifestyle changes," says one city official. "What we’re looking for are small changes. If everyone could drive once or twice less each week, it will make a huge difference." This article quotes a city report claiming that a similar program in Southwest Portland reduced auto trips by 9 percent and miles driven by 12 percent. Now it is targeting North and Southeast Portland. For more information about this new program, go to the city's transportation web page.
I looked up the city report (3.3 MB). It claims that driving was reduced from 85 to 80 percent of trips relative to a control group, while transit increased from 5 to 7 percent and walking/cycling increased from 10 to 13 percent. This is based on surveys conducted six months to a year after implementing the program, so the city doesn't know if these changes are temporary or will be sustained any longer than a few months.
Comments:
I looked it up too dumbass. The free body piercing is a coupon offered by a private business, not the city of Portland. If you would get your facts straight, maybe your point of view would seem like something more than snake oil.
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