Pedal past the pumps and TravelGreen!
The TravelGreen program promotes commuter cycling and increases awareness of cycling safety in the St. Louis region. Trailnet will work with your business, community, or university to address the built environment, policies, and social networks in order to promote bicycle commuting among individuals. The TravelGreen program will identify and engage a strong cycling contingent—those who are ready to change old behaviors and shift gears toward a new and healthier commute on a daily basis. Interested in getting your business, community, or university to TravelGreen?& Contact emily@trailnet.org.
- The average person loses 13 lbs. their first year of commuting by bike.
- Just three hours of bicycling per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%.
- A 140-pound cyclist burns 508 calories while pedaling 14 miles in an hour.
Bike for your health:
- The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling from 1% to 1.5% of all trips.
- Each U.S. rush-hour auto commuter spends an average of 50 hours a year stuck in traffic.
- In 2003, cars stalled in traffic wasted 5 billion gallons of fuel.
Bike for the environment:
- In 1964, 50% of kids rode to school and the obesity rate was 12%... In 2004, 3% rode to school and the obesity rate was 45%.
- Between 1960 and today the average weight of a 6-11 year old has increased 11 pounds.
Bike for the future:
- 60% of the pollution created by automobile emissions happens in the first few minutes of operation, before pollution control devices can work effectively.
- 25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40% of all trips are made within two miles of the home, and 50% of the working population commutes five miles or less to work.
Bike for five miles or less:
*Statistics from Trek Bicycle Corporation’s advocacy division, retrieved from 1world2wheels.org.
Encouraging Businesses to TravelGreen
Trailnet’s TravelGreen program helps you implement sustainable business practices by addressing the workplace environment, individuals, and the social support needed to promote active transportation among your employees.
TravelGreen tailors programs that specifically cater to the needs, geography, and culture of individual businesses.
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Successful solutions have included:
- Office champion taskforce
- Individual and workplace incentives
- Goal setting and evaluations
- Route planning
- Car-free Fridays or bike to work days
- Carpool matching
- Multimodal demonstrations and education
- Educational lunch and learn sessions
- Bike mentorship programs
- Office-wide challenges
- Social media outreach
- Guaranteed ride home program
- Car-sharing discounts
- Program sustainability plan
Shift Your Commute
Pedal past the pumps and TravelGreen! The more cyclists on the road, the safe and healthier it is for everyone.
Log your miles to learn your carbon emissions saved and calories burned, while helping Trailnet track bicycle commuting in St. Louis.
Join our February and September bike to work challenges! Log your miles for a chance to win a prize as either an individual or a workplace team. Trips on your bike trips that count on Shift Your Commute should be transportation trips, not leisure rides. Please note that you must log your miles by 8:00 pm on the last day of the month.
TravelGreen in the Central West End
In April 2011, Trailnet received an Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Grant to promote biking to work and biking for transportation in the Central West End through Trailnet’s TravelGreen program. Trailnet worked in this neighborhood to increase physical activity levels of residents by promoting active living. For this grant, we started the website shiftyourcommute.com to track biking for transportation. We hosted events such as National Bike to Work Day, a Breakfast for Bikers series, the Literary Ride, BikeSmart, and Trailnet on Tap in this neighborhood to provide individuals encouragement and education to start biking for transportation.
For more information on TravelGreen in the Central West End, contact emily@trailnet.org.
Downtown Bicycle Station
The City of St. Louis presents the region’s first full-service bike commuter facility! Begin your day with a healthy, environmentally friendly commute to work. The Downtown Bicycle Station offers secure 20-hour access and features more than 100 bike racks, showers and locker rooms, ideal for cyclists commuting to work or looking to exercise on their lunch break.
For more information and to become a member, visit www.downtownbicyclestation.org.
Bike Smart
Want to bike more but don’t feel comfortable doing so? Do you ride regularly, but would like to fine tune your riding skills? Whether you are considering commuting to work by bike or simply want to learn more about how to ride safely, Trailnet has just the class for you! Trailnet will be offering a 5-hour hands-on class on how to ride as visibly, predictably, and safely as possible. The class will also include some basic bike maintenance such as changing a flat tire, adjusting derailleurs, and adjusting brakes.
The class will be led by a League of American Bicyclists certified cycling instructor (www.bikeleague.org) and will cover what to check on your bike before a ride, riding safely in traffic, common avoidance maneuvers, and much more! Our goal is to build your confidence to be able to ride in any situation.
Cost: FREE- sponsored by Great Rivers Greenway
Upcoming Classes:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cafe Ventana
3919 West Pine Boulevard
Saint Louis, MO 63108-3207
Click here to register.
If you are still interested, click here to put your name on our waiting list.
Questions? Contact Rachel at 314-436-1324 x141 or rachel@trailnet.org