Program To Spur Mass Transit Usage
by Larry Lagarde

In an effort to decrease pollution, Santa Cruz County is taking an unusual step - they're subsidizing the purchase of folding bikes.

Why Subsidize Folding Bikes?
Quiet and non-polluting, bicycles are an ideal means of transportation for rides of 3 miles or less; however, for traversing longer distances, most people would rather use a motor vehicle so they don't arrive sweaty or worn out. Officials reasoned that if people are going to use motor vehicles for longer distances, the key to reducing pollution is to make mass transit more inviting.

Studies have shown that mass transit riders will only walk so far to get to or from a transit stop. Using a bike to cover that "last mile" changes the equation, making mass transit becomes more convenient for most Santa Cruz residents.

Although Santa Cruz has bike racks on their buses, the racks only accommodate 2 bikes. The only feasible way to get more cyclists onto buses was to encourage use of folding bikes that could be carried onto the bus.

Cyclists that participate in the discount program must take a bike safety class and are offered a discount to use local mass transit.

More... Folding Bikes In Buses

Labels: folding-bike-subsidy, Santa-Cruz