Fox Valley Sustainability Network explores shared transportation options

A concept called shared mobility illustrates a fundamental change in transportation and was a centerpiece topic at the Fox Valley Sustainability Network forum on Dec. 7 at Judson University in Elgin. The network has been hosting forums all year that explore specific project implementations in the region.

Tim Frisbie, communications and policy director for Shared Use Mobility Center, set the stage with his presentation on national mobility priorities that noted changing trends in private automobile ownership along with the rise of car and ride sharing services.

"As a society, we're undergoing a shift right now, from a model where owning your car is important to where access is more important," Frisbie said. "We like to say access is more important than ownership."

At the same time, more people are becoming comfortable with non-ownership options, Frisbie said, describing a study the Mobility Center did earlier this year for the Transportation Research board on transit and shared mobility.

What the center found, he said, was that the more people "use shared mobility, the more likely they are to use public transportation, and the less likely they are to own a car. All modes of transportation work together in a robust ecosystem."

Shared-use mobility refers to transportation services that are shared among users. These can include public transit; taxis and limos; bike sharing; car sharing and ridesharing (car-pooling, van-pooling). These sharing options reduce the reliance on private autos, serve non-work trips, connect jobs and housing and complement public transit and impact energy consumption.

The Mobility Center is a public-interest and research organization that fosters collaboration in shared mobility by connecting connect the growing industry with transit agencies, cities and communities across the nation. Earlier this year, the center released a Shared Use Mobility Toolkit that includes a policy database, mapping tool and benefits calculator. The toolkit is available online at sharedusemobilitycenter.org/tools/.

In Aurora, planners are developing coordinated ride shares programs as a commuting option. Eric Gallt, city traffic engineer, described efforts to implement Zagster, Aurora's bike share program and the need to develop a biking culture that takes it from recreation to commuting.

"We grew our bicycle system because we wanted to capture people that were coming downtown," Gallt said. "It was about the economy."

The program, launched in June, cost $33,000 to implement, he said. It reached 205 unique users and garnered positive press for the city. Next season, Gallt expects 3,000 users.

Launched in the spring, the Fox Valley Sustainability Network brings together public and private sector stakeholders who share resources and ideas meant to ensure a healthier and more sustainable region.

But the network's forums also draw residents, too. Douglas Bruss, an engineer who lives in Carpentersville, attended the transportation forum, "to get new ideas and to see what other things I could do to help make our local society more sustainable," he said.

"There are probably a lot of people out there like me that would like to be involved in local projects, but they just don't know how to get involved. The Fox Valley Sustainability Network allows this to happen."

Visit www.foxvalleysustainabilitynetwork.com or www.facebook.com/foxvalleysustainabilitynetwork/.