Description
Subsidizing non-single occupancy vehicle modes can reduce the cost of alternative modes of transportation and encourage shifts to away from single occupancy vehicles.
This measure provides direct financial incentives, such as cash payments, to individuals who walk, bike, or use other non-motorized modes for their commute or daily trips. Rewards are typically tracked through mobile apps and/or self-reporting and serve to incentivize active transportation while reinforcing mode shifts from non-SOV.
Implementation Details
- Define eligible non-motorized modes and trip types and establish reward structures.
- Promote the program through workplace communications, community outreach, or app-based marketing
- Monitor participation, trip frequency, and mode shift data to evaluate effectiveness and adjust incentive levels.
Mitigation Potential
Providing monetary incentives to use alternative modes of transportation reduces vehicle trips and therefore VMT. Monetary rewards provide a direct incentive to shift to alternative modes of transportation.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Reward programs must be accessible to individuals without smartphones or reliable data plans. Offering alternative verification methods, such as check-in kiosks or paper logs ensures no population is disadvantaged. Reward structures should ensure meaningful value for lower-income participants, and payment methods should include options that don’t require bank accounts.
Funding Sources
Funding sources include, employer commute or wellness program budgets, CMAQ grants, state and regional TDM program funds.
Implemented in TAM Area
Current TDM Implementation
The Marin Commutes Rewards Program allows anyone living or working in Marin to earn up to $500 per year for logging green trips, which includes walking, biking, taking transit, carpooling, vanpooling, or working from home. The County of Marin provides a $360 cash incentive for county employees who bike, walk, or carpool to work 40 days in a six-month period.
TDM Benefit Locations
Specific employers can use their own rewards program to expand this TDM measure and incentivize non-motorized trips. Large medical, educational, or technology company sites with high volumes of commuting employees are strong candidates for implementation.