It is summer in Omaha, which means it’s also commuter challenge season. This year we have the opportunity to participate in two challenges: First is Activate Omaha’s well-established and highly popular Bicycle Commuter Challenge, which runs for five months and is singularly focused on biking. New to the fray is Metro and MAPA’s Metro Commuter Challenge, which asks participants to carpool or take the bus from July 9–August 3.
I have mixed feelings about participating in these challenges.
On the one hand, it draws great attention to a few excellent and sustainable means by which to commute. In Omaha, approximately 96% of commuters move about alone in their traditionally-fueled vehicle. That’s preposterously high and clearly shows why the quality of our air is declining*. These programs also get people thinking about their commute and how they might pursue a more sustainable, healthier and less expensive alternative to their normal, lonely drive.
On the other hand, as someone who often commutes by bus and bike, I almost feel like I’m being punished by having to log every trip. Maybe we should consider asking the other 96% to log how many miles they travel, how much they’re spending on gas, and what their emissions are. As someone who used to almost exclusively commute alone in my car, I can reasonably assume that most people don’t track the financial or environmental impact of their commute. Doing so might open a few eyes.
The timing of the Metro Commuter Challenge is interesting in light of the Brookings Institute report that was released yesterday, which found that 76.2% of jobs in Omaha are accessible by public transportation, but only 28.5% of metro-area workers can get there in 90 minutes or less. Yes, you read that right: 90 minutes. How long is your commute? And we wonder why more people aren’t using public transportation in Omaha.
Metro's system provides access to 76% of Omaha businesses
To Metro‘s credit, they’re doing a great job with the ridiculously low budget they have. And the access figures referenced above are right on par with what Brookings found when studying the service provided by 371 transit authorities nationally. That doesn’t make it right, it just makes it normal.
The Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (yes, two separate entities…the hospital and the university) are particularly interested in seeing Omaha’s alternative transportation landscape improve. They’re expecting a major pinch on their parking infrastructure in the next five years, and we’re excited to be helping them think about how they can minimize that pressure without immediately defaulting to building new surface lots or structured parking. Both are helping fund and participating in the Midtown Transit Alternatives Analysis, further evidence of their commitment to improved transit in the area.
When all is said and done, I’m happy to participate in both of these challenges, and I truly hope that it’s one small way that we can continue to improve the alternative transportation landscape in Omaha. But if that #11 bus doesn’t show up once more, I’m not sure what I’ll do.
Onward and upward.
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*Special note: The June 8, 2012 Omaha World Herald article regarding Omaha’s air quality included this list of “Things you can do to lessen ozone:”
gas up your car and mow your lawn after 7 p.m.; stop filling your vehicle when the nozzle first clicks off; and avoid using gasoline-powered small engines. In other words, sweep your driveway and rake your leaves rather than use
a leaf blower.
Seriously!?! No mention of getting out of your car and walking, biking, bussing, carpooling, working from home or otherwise limiting single-occupancy vehicle trips. While I’m pleased the Herald covered the story, it’s ridiculous that the reporter didn’t offer better options for Omahans to make a difference.
Great read, Craig. I can understand your thoughts on the logging thing; in fact, that many of the people that we know are commuting by bike most often are not signed up for the AO bicycle commuter challenge. The one thing we hear pretty regularly from those who do participate is that they just like to have a place to log their miles – it adds a sense of accomplishment for them. Frankly, the second group is really who our challenge is aimed at, as we know that the "usual suspects" are going to ride, regardless.
…Which brings me to my second thought, which is, if the same principle holds true for transit use, then a challenge to log rides should theoretically increase ridership. "76.2% of jobs in Omaha are accessible by public transportation, but only 28.5% of metro-area workers can get there in 90 minutes or less" is the barrier. (In the humble opinion of this west O resident who wishes she had more transit options.)
UNMC is building a new 1200 stall parking lot south of Leavenworth at 40th Street. 1200 stalls, so what is their commitment? They denied a bike lane through their campus when they closed 40th at Emile. They have a parking structure that is falling down at 42nd and Emile that they are closing but not addressing it.
So, while they are exploring the options, I believe they are continuing to move forward with status quo built environments. When asked to build the parking structure under their new tower they said it was too expensive.
I attempted the YP Bus Challenge in 2008 and my commute to work was 105 minutes one-way and had a one mile walk to end it. I could never participate but did log my concerns for that report. I like the idea of having everyone log their single vehicle use. Perhaps that can be done by in a different sense by checking overall gas consumption in the Omaha market or by requesting traffic counter records from the city and making some conclusions based on that data.
I do know that it isn't raising awareness that our transit system needs, it is funding and routing that meets the need of the population not currently utilizing the services.
Hi Mike,
I appreciate your frustration with the status quo, but we both know that when it comes to shifting business as usual we are trying to steer the Queen Mary 2, not a row boat. Culture changes by accretion, and surely but slowly by working together and making the case for sustainable options we will change the community.
In the case of UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center, Verdis recognizes the challenges presented by the large, midtown campus that is home to two of Omaha's largest employers, but also sees tremendous opportunity. We will be engaging both organizations on transportation and parking demand issues in the coming year, and hope to help with a process that opens doors for new options that support more diverse transportation modes while continuing to meet everyone's needs.
Personally, I need to rollerblade commute more. Luckily Verdis provides "rollerblade only" parking space right under my desk.