What Is Commute Options?
Historically, the city of Memphis has placed an emphasis on developing more convenient automotive transportation, with the downside of becoming a less walkable and transit-friendly community. Today, 80% of Memphians drive alone to and from work each day. We believe it is time to change this status quo. The drive-alone culture negatively impacts our local economy, communities, and environment while contributing to sprawl. Single-occupancy cars dominate the road, but it doesn’t have to be this way!
The Commute Options initiative aims to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicle commute trips in Memphis while increasing the usage of public transit, carpooling, bicycling, and walking. Commute Options came to be when the Tennessee Department of Transportation awarded Innovate Memphis, our parent organization, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant. As a result, we were created to promote transportation choices that improve economic and community health. Since then, Commute Options has worked diligently to support transportation methods that are sustainable for all!
The first step is raising awareness for the options available in Memphis. Understanding services offered by organizations like Groove on Demand, MATA, and Explore Bike Share makes the switch to a sustainable commute much less daunting. Each of these organizations work to provide low cost and low barrier transportation options for the community as a whole.
Next, we work to encourage and support the City of Memphis as they work towards improved infrastructure for alternative methods of commuting. Initiatives like protected bike lanes and safer crosswalks create a better environment for those looking to walk to or cycle. A great example of this is at the intersection of Peabody and Belvedere. Voice prompts, grooved platforms, and easily visible and accessible buttons ensure all pedestrians can effectively utilize the crosswalk. For bike lanes, the Hampline is a great model of a protected lane to separate bicycles from cars. Improvements like this are what we hope to see throughout the city!
The question remains: why should Memphis become more forward-thinking when it comes to transportation? Transportation is an economic barrier as it determines access to community resources. Forward-thinking commutes help lower this barrier. In addition, transportation has one of the highest impacts on the environment. These are just two of the many reasons that your commute matters.
Transportation options exist that can better support the community as a whole. The key is successfully implementing these in Memphis, then raising awareness that they are available to the public. We have the option to change our commute and support a brighter future for Memphis! Commute Options is here to help you discover a means of transportation that works best for you.