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Four Things To Watch for at the 2018 ACT TDM Forum in Nashville

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The 2018 ACT TDM Forum is happening on November 13 and 14 in Nashville, Tennessee, and we’ll be watching it closely. The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) holds several conferences and events throughout the year in addition to its annual International Conference in the summer. This forum on transportation demand management (TDM) is a key opportunity for anyone working on commuter mobility and transportation in the private or public sector.

Just like last year’s event in Las Vegas, this one has an agenda focused on preparing TDM professionals to keep up with the latest changes in technology, policy, and the evolving mobility ecosystem. Starting with the opening keynote from Gary Gaston, CEO of Nashville Civic Design Center, it promises to be an inspiring two days. And like the other events organized by ACT, what happens at the TDM Forum is a great indication of where the industry is heading.

Whether you’ll be attending in person or not, here are the important things we think you should watch for:

Breakout Sessions

An impressive agenda is taking shape and we’re excited about the topics and panelists that are showing up. From new dockless scooters to big data, we’ll be splitting up to make sure we don’t miss any of the breakout sessions featuring leaders in TDM.

Kicking off the sessions on Tuesday morning, RideAmigos Director of Customer Success, Corey Tucker, will be moderating an important discussion of how organizations can leverage mobility data to make better operational decisions.

We’re also looking forward to hearing from Lucy Tice and Jessica Sanborn from Google talk about what drives commuter choices. While you’re counting down to Nashville, check out this Coffee Talk in which Lucy shared how Google incentivized employees to bike to work.

More sessions are still being added, so check out the full agenda here.

40 under 40

The ACT 40 Under 40 Awards recognize emerging leaders in TDM. According to ACT, “the awards provide recognition for ambitious leaders who are working to find creative TDM solutions to improve the quality of life of commuters and the livability of communities.”

Each year, the 40 under 40 represent agencies, companies, and academic institutions that are leading change. In 2017, five RideAmigos clients, including Peter Williamson, were among the honorees when awards were presented in Las Vegas. RideAmigos co-founder Jeffrey Chernick is also a past honoree.

We always keep an eye on this list of 40 industry trailblazers and the organizations they represent to learn from their success and see what they’ll do next.

Who Shows Up

If you were at the 2018 ACT International Conference in Anaheim, you probably noticed something: IT. IS. GROWING.

From innovative mobility providers and technology vendors to an ever-increasing number of organizations prioritizing commuter transportation programs, the new faces at each ACT event are signaling that TDM is starting to take center stage. Whether you have been working to solve commuter mobility challenges for decades or are new to the industry, you should see the growth of this amazing community as a really positive sign.

Don’t miss this and other opportunities during the year to hear from and network with industry thought leaders, commuter management professionals from around the world, and new mobility providers.

RideAmigos Updates

We recently released major updates to the RideAmigos mobile apps and commuter engagement platform. But we have lots more in store. Our team will be on hand in Nashville with some exciting things to show you. If you’re already a RideAmigos customer, you can also get early previews through Academy Office Hours webinar series.

If you’ll be coming to the ACT TDM Forum and you’d like to meet with our team, email act@rideamigos.com. If you can’t make it, you can contact us for a demo and consultation. Either way, we’d love to meet you to learn about your challenges and share some of what we’re excited about this Fall.

RideAmigos at ACT Conference 2018

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The Association for Commuter Transportation International Conference is taking place July 29th through August 1st, and RideAmigos is proud to be a sponsor and exhibitor.

The best part for us is that so many of our awesome customers will be part of making this year’s event extra-special. As we’ve said time and time again, working for our amazing user community is what makes us love what we do. If you’re not already part of the RideAmigos Academy, check out all the ways you can connect with our customers and our team in Anaheim. You’ll see what we mean!

Presentations and Panels

Don’t miss hearing from some RideAmigos customers at one of these interesting and informative sessions at this year’s conference:

Bike Share on Campus: Emerging best practices
(Monday, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM)

David Sorrell, who manages the TDM program at UC Berkeley, will be on a panel discussing how dockless bike share systems have changed, how we think about and plan for bicycle commuting, and how his program is responding.

Rethinking Residential TDM
(Monday, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM)

This panel features Tien-Tien Chan, TDM Program Manager at the City of Austin, along with others behind residential TDM campaigns from around the nation. Together they will discuss how they measured success and share valuable lessons learned.

Three Winning Incentive Strategies in Practice
(Monday, 1:30 – 2:45 PM)

A panel of experts from across industries will focus on the commuter incentives strategies that are driving real, measurable results, including daily incentives, commuter stores, and parking cash-out programs. This panel features three RideAmigos clients; Brittany Barrett, Assistant Director of Transportation at Emory University; Kim Comstock, Commuter Programs Manager at  Commute.org, and Tien-Tien Chan, TDM Program Manager at the City of Austin. It will also be moderated by our own Corey Tucker, Director of Programs and Customer Success at RideAmigos.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: New Mobility Approaches for Your Workplace of Campus
(Tuesday, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM)

Amy McCrary, Senior Sustainable Transportation Specialist at Stanford Research Park in Palo Alto, California will be part of a panel discussing how to help commuters to rethink how they move to, from and around your facilities.

The Cost of Competition: Subsidy and Incentive Strategies for All Employer Markets
(Tuesday, 1:45 PM – 3:00 PM)

Kim Comstock of Commute.org in San Mateo County will join another panel to discuss how employers can differentiate themselves in recruitment and retention by leveraging commuter benefits and incentives. This panel will share examples of how organizations of different scales implemented successful strategies that fit their budgets and needs.

Vanpool Group Formation: Getting All the Pieces to Fall into Place
(Tuesday, 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM)

Does this sound familiar: You have a group of people interested in vanpooling but, in practice, it’s difficult to get them all going? In this session, Patty Olmsted, Senior Business Outreach Specialist at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and other experienced panelists will share real-life vanpool group formation tips to overcome the challenges and get more people in vanpools.

Scale UP! TDM Strategies for Large Employers
(Tuesday, 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM)

Shawn Chavira, Associate Director of Transportation, USC Transportation, and other panelists will help us understand what kinds of commuter benefits programs work for large employers to reduce the transportation frustrations of their employees, visitors and surrounding community.

ACT Award Finalists

If you cross paths with any of these RideAmigos customers, be sure to congratulate them on being recognized as finalists for ACT Awards in these impressive categories:

California State University, Los Angeles, Transportation Services – Marketing and Outreach, University

City of Austin Smart Commute Rewards – Commuting Options, Carpooling

GoRedmond – Commuting Options, Biking

Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission – Marketing and Outreach, Public

Patty Olmsted, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission – Commuting Options, Vanpooling

Stanford Research Park Transportation Management Association – Outstanding TMA

Tien-Tien Chan, City of Austin Transportation Department – Excellence in Advocacy

TravelWise, Region of Waterloo and Sustainable Waterloo Region – Commuting Options, Carpooling

UCLA Transportation – Commuting Options, Biking AND Commuting Options, Public Transit

Kudos to all these amazing programs, teams, and individuals – you’re all transportation heroes in our book! We love working with and learning from leaders like you who are at the top of their field.

RideAmigos ACT Commuter Challenge

Drop by the RideAmigos booth to take part in the RideAmigos ACT Commuter Challenge! We’ll be giving away $50 gift cards for most CO2 saved, most single occupancy vehicle (SOV) miles avoided, and most calories burned. Even if you don’t top the charts, you’ll still have a chance at a random giveaways of our new Transportation Hero t-shirts.

RideAmigos Academy Meet-up

If you’re a RideAmigos customer, you should already have your calendars blocked off for Tuesday night’s user meet-up and appreciation dinner. Need more convincing? Here are 5 reason’s not to miss this year’s meet-up.

Annual Closing Night Karaoke Party

There’s no better way to wrap up another great ACT conference than the annual karaoke party. This year’s party will be bigger and better than ever, just a short walk from the conference hotel in the Anaheim Garden Walk at 8pm on Tuesday, July 31st. We’re also excited to welcome Lime as a co-sponsor of this year’s event. They might even bring some of their famous electric scooters. If you’re not already on the list, sign up for your free ticket now!

If you’re looking for a RideAmigos team member to chat with about the latest and greatest updates to our platform, programs, and mobile apps, just drop by booth #27 or send a note to act@rideamigos.com. We’d love to meet you in person and learn about the work you’re working to engage commuters in your area!

ACT 2018. Let’s do this!

CommuteCon 2018 Highlights and Recap

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CommuteCon 2018 was the largest and most successful episode of our annual commuter management and TDM conference to date, with nearly double the registrations and attendees compared to the 2017 event. Professionals from all over the world took part in CommuteCon 2018, and speakers representing a complete range of sectors including enterprise, government, and universities delivered talks filled with meaningful insights and valuable takeaways.

We’ve received great feedback about this year’s event from members of our audience. This year’s attendees were particularly enthusiastic about the presentations by keynote speakers Susan Shaheen and Simon Mainwaring. Shaheen, who co-directs UC Berkeley’s Transportation Sustainability Research Center, gave an illuminating talk on the social benefits of shared mobility. Mainwaring, founder and CEO of We First Branding, gave us a peek behind the curtain at some of his most effective strategies for leading conversations that drive social change. We’re incredibly fortunate and thankful that they took the time to join us.

The two keynotes, along with 18 other informative sessions, are available to view and download at commutecon.com. Other audience favorites included:

Hundreds of TDM professionals and stakeholders came together to join the live webcast, with many attending in groups of two to five people or more. It was a landmark event for the global commuter management community, and we’re beyond pleased that it was such a resounding success.

CommuteCon 2018 was presented by RideAmigos. We are grateful to our Sponsors,  JUMP and Scoop; Friends of the conference, Car2Go, CityFi, Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions, Lyft Business, First Transit, TransitScreen, UBER for Business, Waze Carpool, and Zipcar; and our Association Partner, the Association for Commuter Transportation.

The CommuteCon team is thrilled to announce that we’ve set the date for next year’s event. CommuteCon 2019 will take place on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 – mark your calendars now! Like previous conferences, CommuteCon 2019 will be an accessible, community-oriented platform for the free exchange of ideas and strategies, all while helping TDM professionals expand their impact and inspiration. Visit commutecon.com to sign up for conference updates.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make CommuteCon 2018 such a meaningful and valuable event. We hope see you next year!

RideAmigos at ACT 2017

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The 2017 Association for Commuter Transportation International Conference is coming up July 30th!

We’re looking forward to seeing lots of friends and RideAmigos family at this year’s ACT Conference in New Orleans. This conference is always something we look forward to as a great opportunity to connect with current partners, learn about what’s happening around the TDM industry, and have some fun sharing about RideAmigos.

Will you be at ACT 2017? If so, let’s get together!

Booth 23

Stop by our booth in the exhibit area! One of the main reasons we’re excited about this conference is the chance to chat with people in person. If you’re wanting to connect with one of us, booth 23 should be the first place to look.

Mobility Credits for Behavior Change
Tuesday, August 1st, 3:30pm

Jeffrey Chernick, RideAmigos CEO, will present on “Mobility Credits for Behavior Change: An Innovative Pilot to Create a Better Planet” Tuesday afternoon. Come over to the Sheraton Bayside C to learn about Century City TMO’s program to break down barriers to smarter commuting by providing valuable incentives and services like Lyft Line and Scoop. Linda Lyles from Century City and David Weisman from Scoop will also be speaking.

Academy Meet-up and Workshop
Tuesday August 1st, 6pm

Since so many of our partners attend ACT, it’s the perfect opportunity for an in-person Academy even. If you’re a RideAmigos partner or admin, join us for an evening of networking, idea-sharing, and brainstorming as we work together to create a better planet by shifting commuter behavior. The event is free and dinner will be provided.

Register here and be be sure to stick around for the party afterward …

Closing Night Karaoke Party
Tuesday, August 1st, 8pm

Partying with RideAmigos on the last night of the ACT conference has become an annual tradition! Don’t miss out on this chance to unwind with folks from across the industry and around the world. Practice your favorite karaoke tunes and get ready for a good time. The party is free, as is the open bar.

RSVP now for your ticket and tell your friends!

If you want to make sure we connect with you at the conference, send us a message and we’ll set up a time to cross paths!

Don’t Miss the Bus – CommuteCon 2017 is Coming

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CommuteCon 2017 – Wednesday, February 8th

Check your schedule get moving!

Let your friends and colleagues know it’s not too late to register. It’s going to be the most fun and informative four hours in the commuter transportation industry.

Register Now

We’re also excited to announce that the Association for Commuter Transportation is sponsoring CommuteCon. Please join us in saying “thanks!”

 

 

Press Release Follows:

RideAmigos to Host CommuteCon 2017 Online Conference

SANTA MONICA, CA, 02/01/2017: RideAmigos is pleased to host CommuteCon 2017, an online conference focused on current trends and topics in the field of transportation demand management (TDM). The event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pacific). Participation is free, and open to all.

The conference provides an accessible online forum where prominent leaders in the TDM field can connect with citizens, stakeholders, and other TDM professionals. It is structured around notable speakers drawn from a variety of sectors including government, education, and private enterprise. Featured speakers will present ideas and discuss trending topics in the TDM space.

Registration information and a detailed schedule of speakers and topics is available at https://rideamigos.com/commutecon-2017/ .

Program highlights will include:

  • Creating strategies for changing commuter behaviors
  • Encouraging the adoption of alternate modes of transportation
  • Designing, implementing, and managing employee commuter programs
  • Leveraging peer-to-peer relationships through employee outreach programs
  • Reviewing the latest mobility legislation

CommuteCon 2017 is the second such conference hosted by RideAmigos and the first to be presented under the new CommuteCon label. Keynote speaker Susan Shaheen, co-director of the Transportation Sustainability Research at the University of California-Berkeley, said, “The last RideAmigos virtual conference was jam-packed with great insights from shared mobility operators from across all sectors.”

The Association for Commuter Transportation is also a sponsor of CommuteCon 2017.

Early registration for the upcoming conference has already made CommuteCon 2017 one of the largest commuter TDM-related events in the world. It will be an annual event going forward.

 

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About RideAmigos

RideAmigos is a Santa Monica, California-based producer of transportation demand management software. In addition to developing an online commuter management platform, RideAmigos hosts and organizes industry events and supports organizations in both the public and private sectors as they move towards more sustainable transportation and commuting policies. The company’s areas of focus include intelligent rideshare matching, advanced TDM automation and integration, and the promotion of robust gamification and commuter incentive tools.

RideAmigos to Host Online Conference Feb 8th

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CommuteCon 2017

Wednesday, February 8, 2017
10 AM – 2 PM Pacific / 1 PM – 5 PM Eastern

Designed to be a fun, informative, and accessible opportunity for learning and collaboration, CommuteCon will feature impact-focused sessions with industry leaders, relevant topics, and opportunities to interact.

Have we mentioned – it’s FREE!

The half-day online format makes it easy to join from anywhere, without having to give up an entire day or make elaborate travel plans. If your work (or play) relates to commuter management, transportation demand management, mobility, parking management, sustainability, or employee benefits, CommuteCon should be on your must-attend list for 2017.

Mark your calendars now!

Registration and schedule coming soon.

CommuteCon Biker Bar

Featured Speakers

Susan Shaheen, Co-Director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center
UC Berkeley

Steve Raney, Executive Director, Smart Mobility
Joint Venture Silicon Valley

Kent Epperson, Director of Traffic Solutions
Santa Barbara County Association of Governments

Phillip Kobernick, Sustainability Project Manager
County of Alameda

Justin Mog​, ​Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives
University of Louisville

Jamie Jarvis, Transportation Demand Manager
Stanford Research Park

Peter Williamson, Employee Outreach Coordinator
Rideshare.org

Aaron Gaul, UrbanTrans North America
Century City Transportation Management Organization

David Weisman, Director of Business Development
Scoop

More To Come!

Program Highlights

  • Shifting behaviour with prizes & competition
  • Working with Scoop, Zipcar & Lyft in your community
  • Creating impact with Bike to Work  Day
  • Managing employer commuter programs
  • Employee outreach: Leveraging peer to peer relationships
  • Latest in Mobility Legislation
  • Moving the needle with Parking Cash-out Programs
  • And More …

To make sure you receive future CommuteCon announcements, sign up for our newsletter.

Open Street Map (OSM): Getting the most out of your TDM software

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Rob Ludwig is RideAmigos’ backend developer. He shares some insight into how powerful a tool Open Street Map (OSM) can be, and how to maintain its high quality.

 

What Does it Do?

  • Free, open map of the planet with metadata.
  • Essentially a “Wikipedia” for geodata.
  • Uses the open database license.
  • Users can edit map info with streets, sidewalks, trails, and other features.
  • Provides local, on-the-ground knowledge.
  • Really available for use in commercial and noncommercial products.
  • Allows hundreds of different public transportation tags, along with roads and ways tags.

 

How to Maintain High Quality Data

  • Look at underlying OSM data when routing is counter-intuitive.
  • Participate in shaping data formats: new tags.
  • Encourage community participation, even if it’s armchair mapping.
  • Participate in and sponsor “Mapathons.”

 

The Benefits of Good OSM Data

  • Thousands of small, medium, and large apps use it.
  • Heavily used in academic settings.
  • A “Wikipedia” for most landmarks and cities.
  • Many humanitarian organizations use OSM after natural disasters occur to get the most accurate form of geodata on the area affected. (example: nepal 2015 earthquake)

 

 

TDM is about routing and showing your commuter options, so with better data from Open Street Map we’re able to provide better options.

Exploring New Technologies in Transportation

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Ben Dalton is CTO and co-founder at RideAmigos. Through his experience, Ben has developed a passion for finding new ways to utilize technology to facilitate cultural improvements. He shares some insight on the multiple intersections of new transportation technologies.

Over the last 10 years, the world has experienced significant growth in the technology sector. Smartphones are changing the way we interact with the world through apps like Airbnb, Uber, Car2Go, etc., by making us think about common shareable resources. Companies like Tesla and Nissan are working to make electric vehicles attractive and viable because there is an existing and increasing demand for this service. Open Street Map (OSM) and other open data initiatives, together with open source projects, are serving as a foundation for all of the future’s advancements.

Ben highlights that a bright future is possible for the commuter. Useful technologies have already been developed, but there’s still a lot of work ahead.

  • Electric Vehicle Technology
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • iBeacons
  • Wearables
  • GPS
  • Cellular Data
  • Open Source
  • Open Data
  • Dynamic Dispatching
  • Interconnected Transit Operations

Watch Ben’s video for a look into the future and how collaboration between these technologies can easily reduce traffic congestion, our carbon footprint, and every day transportation struggles!

“Technology isn’t about any one given killer app; It’s about combining these open source projects, open data, new technology, new interfaces, and new modes. So as you go out into the world… start looking at the things around you and saying what can we do that would be different and exciting?”

The Intersection of Marketing and Getting the Results You Want

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Aaron Gaul is the Director of Urban Trans North America, a transportation planning and social marketing firm with a focus on multi-modal trip planning. He redirects the question “why can’t you sell brotherhood like you sell soap?” towards the TDM industry. This question was first asked by Gerhard Weibe, a WWII U-boat commander in 1952. It was the birth of social marketing strategies, a valuable tool that the TDM industry is just starting to utilize.

TDM Marketing

Acquisition

Get people to engage with the tools you provide to them. Aaron offers an example of his own success with audience acquisition. He recently started a new TMA in Playa Vista, Los Angeles. One can usually expect to acquire 2% of the potential audience for a business in the first year. Aaron exceeded expectations and acquired 11% in the first week. How did he do this? He utilized the incentives structure of the RideAmigos platform and the information provided about what individual employees were doing and what they wanted. Sending out a customized email template to every individual employee and then giving them a presentation on it is what allowed for 11% acquisition in just one week.

 

Messaging

Send the right message. Los Angeles is notorious for its terrible commuting situation, however, it doesn’t have to be. By sending the message that this barrier can be overcome by already existing investments in its future, you can increase optimism for carpooling. Showcase how making the right decisions about commutes now can help the world now – and its future. One statistic identified that it is 3 times more likely to have a heart attack after one hour of a daily commute. This would incentivize anyone to make the healthier choice. Inform users not only of what they prevent, but what they receive. A commuter could arrive home substantially earlier by using the best transportation option, and have the opportunity to utilize time in the way that he or she wants.

 

Segmenting

Recognize that not all employees fit into the same category. Breakdown who they are and what market segment they fit into. Each market segment has a unique need and will respond similarly to the same market stimulus. Aaron offers an example of an Atlantic station TMA with 650+ people. Most of them were on the online tool that was offered, but not participating. To solve this, the users were broken down into categories: long-time carpoolers that had stopped reporting and current carpoolers that don’t report. The company tested two different email subject lines to survey the needs of their users:

  1. “Please activate account for carpool incentives” which had 0% open rate.
  2. “Your interest in carpooling to Atlantic station” which had 30% open rate.

By doing this, they were able to divide their users into walkers within 2 miles, and active transportation users within 5 miles based off of zipcode in infrastructure. This resulted in 37% increase of commute logging rates, 116% increase of account activation, 100% increase of Cash for Commuters, and 300% increase in GRH (Guaranteed Ride Home) applications.

 

“Find the right people to do the right behaviors because if you don’t, you’re going to be preaching to too many people.”

 

 

 

Teach, Don’t Tell – Client Relations in an Ever-Changing Industry

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Grant Heger is the Director of Client Relations & Project Manager at RideAmigos. Grant shares some insight on how teaching can be used as a tool to enhance client relationships in the constantly changing TDM industry.

 

What do you mean teach, don’t tell? Aren’t they the same thing?

  • Telling = lecturing, a very one sided activity.
    • Do you prefer to be told what to do. or do you prefer being taught how to do something?
  • Teaching allows everyone involved to work together.
  • Be multi-modal!
    • Teaching involves a variety of learning methods for both the teacher and the learner: visual, aural, aesthetic.
  • How do I do this?
    • Jump on screenshare, create a video, have a question and answer session.

 

How will it help me?

  • Think back to college, high school, or even middle school.
    • What lessons do you really remember?
  • Think about the platforms you use most often today.
    • Could you really instruct another user how to work with it efficiently?
  • The more you are able to teach about your platform or program, the more comfortable you will be with it!

 

How will it help my client relations?

  • No more feeling alone, lost in the woods of a new platform or program.
  • A more personal interaction helps your client feel at ease with a new program or workflow.
  • It allows hands-on experience with someone they feel is an expert on the subject.
  • It allows your clients and users to have one specific point of contact to refer back to.
  • It gives them an easy way to ask questions in a learning environment.

 

Never stop learning!

  • If you stagnate, so will your users and clients. Learn to re-learn.
  • Don’t be scared to tell a client “I’m not quite sure but let me find out and get back to you.” This gives you a new learning experience and lets your client know that their question is being attended to.
  • If you learn something new, find someone to teach it to. This will help you retain the information faster and more efficiently.
  • Always remember that there is more than one way to learn: visual, aural, kinesthetic, and more.

 

Grant makes the point that effective learning requires total immersion into a new platform or program. If you are interested in learning about the UNITY platform and how it will fit to your transportation demand management needs, take a few moments to watch our exciting demo video.