WAMC News
(2011-09-19)
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"Massachusetts has got on board to promote getting people out of their vehicles and using alternative commute methods to not just get to work but to make everyday trips."
"So all week long people will have an opportunity to log trips that they take that are not just single-occupancy car based and they'll have opportunities to win daily prizes, and then there's one grand prize and two first prizes."
The worldwide event, which began today and will run until Saturday, is meant to encourage residents to avoid "single occupancy driving," and instead use walking, carpooling, bicycling, or public transportation for everyday trips. Prizes range from a $50 coffee gift card to the grand prize of a $250 gift card to Amazon.com.
The services offered by the Mass Commute member TMAs involved with the event range from the facilitation of rides to shuttle services. However, there are currently no TMAs serving Berkshire County or the Pioneer Valley, as Kusharsky notes.
"We have TMAs that unfortunately have not located out in Western Mass yet. We are hoping to expand and develop new TMAs across the state."
That isn't the only potential setback for Berkshire County residents looking to get in on the event; in June the Berkshire Regional Transportation Authority, or BRTA, held public hearings on proposed service changes that included slashing stops and hours due to steep reductions in state and federal funding. Those changes went into effect Sept. 5, affecting service on over 10 routes.
In response to a question about the cuts and the potential effect on participation in Car-Free Week, Jennifer Solomon, marketing manager for MassRIDES, said the event was meant to promote all forms of eco-friendly transportation.
"The goal of Car-Free Week is to really promote all greener travel modes equally, so for people that can walk or bicycle, which are completely car-free modes, or if there's public transit available, those are great ways to do that."
MassRIDES is partnered with several Berkshire County-based organizations, which allows those groups and businesses to take advantage of the agency's emergency ride home service and ride share incentives.
Those groups include North Adams-based Berkshire Rides, which facilitates ride sharing and offers commuting options for north county residents; Jana Hunkler Brule is project manager of Berkshire Rides.
"I believe that there are a number of people that use the BRTA busses, maybe not exclusively, because that's hard to do when we're rural, but maybe one member of the family commutes and that means they can have just one car."
"In north county you certainly can do employment commuting without a car, because our vans are on the road to bring you anywhere the bus doesn't. There's not a lot out there now for non-employment, so if you need to get to the grocery store you're kind of dependent on a private taxi, which also is out there, it's just a little more costly and some families have trouble with that."
In addition to a lack of non-employment related ride options, transportation options become even more limited in southern Berkshire County, home to some of the most rural areas in the state.
Hunkler Brule said the cuts to the BRTA have made a difference in how the organization is working towards future operation and expansion. Berkshire Rides is currently working with the BRTA to inventory information on every ride share opportunity in the county.
"Before we jump in there and say we need to invest more money with vehicles and drivers it's important to first see what's really out there, how people access it, and make sure everyone knows about it."
Kusharsky said Mass Commute will be working towards the establishment of TMAs in the western half of the state. BRTA administrator Gary Shepard could not be reached for comment in time for this broadcast.
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