Since 1991, Move Minneapolis Transportation Management Organization (TMO) has promoted sustainable transportation – mass transit, carpooling, car-sharing, biking and walking – through outreach and education that targets downtown Minneapolis workers, residents, and visitors.     
2018 Car-Free Day Champions: Tecmark, Eye Care Associates, Kipsu, Optimine, Tightrope Media, When I Work

Car-Free Champs!


Downtown employers and commuters celebrated  World Car-Free Day  on Friday, September 21. Instead of driving alone, participants pledged to commute via transit or by biking, walking, carpooling, or teleworking. Close to 600 commuters shared their stories on how they commuted to work without driving alone.
Sixteen downtown employers competed for the title “Best Workplace for Car-Free Commuters” based on the percentage of their downtown workforce that commuted car-free on September 21st. Move Minneapolis provided employer kits and transportation coaching while employers energized their workforces.

Contenders competed for top honors in either the small or large company group. Within the smaller company category (less than 50 employees) there was a stunning 4-way tie for 1st place. 100% of the staff of Optimine , Tightrope Media , Eye Care Associates and Tecmark commuted car-free on September 21st.
In the large company category, Kipsu   and  When I Work  motivated their staffs for top honors. Each employer offers transportation benefits and promotes a culture of sustainable commuting.


Congratulations to everyone who participated this year!

Watch for World Car-Free Day in 2019!


World Car-Free Day Bike Winners!
Krystal has worked as a project coordinator with Kraus-Anderson for 13 years. She used to office out of Circle Pines, an easy drive from her home in North Branch. This year Kraus-Anderson moved their offices downtown and Krystal’s commute became difficult. Driving that distance in rush hour was exhausting.
 
Luckily, Kraus-Anderson offers Metropass to employees as a transit benefit. These days Krystal relaxes on an express bus from Forest Lake and arrives to work refreshed. She now enjoys her commute.
Jack is the marketing director at Beyond Impact, an IT firm in the Warehouse District. Most days he commutes on his 15 year-old Cannondale bike from the Summit Hill neighborhood of St. Paul. He enjoys riding with a couple of friends on the seven-mile commute up West River Road into downtown. That Cannondale is a sweet ride but is getting a bit worn.

His employer offers excellent transportation benefits, so on days when he doesn’t pedal in, Jack uses a company Go To card to hop on the Green Line. 

Jack braved the wind and rain on World Car-Free Day and shared his story online. That dedication paid off when he won a new Bianchi Venezia bike from One On One Bicycle Studios. He still loves his old Cannondale, but has plenty of love to share with his new ride, too. 
Krause-Anderson took part in World Car-Free Day and encouraged staff to participate. Krystal shared her commuting story online and was thrilled to learn that her name was picked as the winner of a one-of-a-kind art bike – an imported Royal Dutch Gazelle. Krystal likes biking with her family and now has the most stylin’ ride this side of Amsterdam.
Working Late? Errands? Staying downtown for a dinner or a show? Take an HOURCAR Home With Overnight MAX

HOURCAR, the Twin Cities’ nonprofit carsharing service, has introduced a new rate feature, the Overnight MAX. Between the hours of 6 pm and 8 am, HOURCAR members pay a maximum of $30 in hourly charges. This is an ideal solution for bike and transit commuters who occasionally need to stop at the store on the way home or run evening errands. You can take the bus or bike to work, take an HOURCAR home and bring it back the next morning with a guaranteed parking space waiting for you. If you’re a regular transit or bike commuter and have to work late or get stranded, you will soon be able to use HOURCAR’s Overnight MAX as a Guaranteed Ride Home . 

***Here's a special promotion available exclusively through Move Minneapolis: sign up for an HOURCAR membership and use the promo code MOVE-MPLS . You’ll receive $30 in driving credit free toward your first use of Overnight MAX.

Take advice from Amy, give carpooling a try and see how easy, fast and stress free commuting can be! Enjoy chatting on your drive, zoom for free down the MnPASS Lane and pay as little as $20 a month to park in the ABC Ramps.
New Carpoolers Become Friends Riding Downtown
Amy and Shomari are so fun that when they walked into the Move Minneapolis office to register their carpool we just knew we had to interview them for our Carpoolers of the Month feature. Luckily, they are really good sports as well as each being very nice. Amy comes in from Champlin, Shomari lives in Brooklyn Center, and they park in Ramp A.

They have been carpooling for only a couple of months but really enjoy driving together, having conversations, and laughing a lot. A big plus is getting into downtown quickly via the MnPASS lanes.

Amy, “If you are on the fence [about carpooling], I would give it a try to see if it works for you. An extra perk of carpooling is the benefit to use the ramp for free parking for things such as events or getting to the airport. With me now getting downtown earlier, I am able to use the extra time to walk in the skyway before work which helps me obtain my daily step goal.”

Shomari, “I’m happy that I signed up and I have zero regrets. My commutes have been smooth both in and out of downtown thus far. The use of the MnPass lanes is a nice perk, and so are free bus rides in the downtown zone. And I always know the person sitting next to me is pleasant.”
Expanded Vanpools Ease Traffic Woes on I-35W
I-35W construction got you down? Consider vanpooling.
Vanpooling makes a lot of sense for long distance commuters and is popular for several reasons:

  •  Save Money: Vanpooling saves by reducing the cost of gas, vehicle maintenance and depreciation. And, vanpooling uses unpaid, volunteer drivers, not for-hire services.
  • Go Fast: Vanpools zoom down the MnPASS lanes toll-free, bypassing gridlock
  • Reclaim Lost Time: With no need to focus on traffic, vanpool passengers can read, e-mail, nap, shop, talk, or watch TV
  • Create Access: Vanpools are a low-cost way to expand transit options that go beyond the bus route network

For more information on setting up your own vanpool, call 651-602-VANS, visit www.metrotransit.org/vanpool . Read more about Enterprise Rideshare at www.enterpriserideshare.com . 
Minneapolis Ranks High! How 'Bout Your Neighborhood?
Walkscore.com ranks neighborhoods with access to public transit, better commutes, and proximity to a happier, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. Downtown Minneapolis ranks high nationally. Check out your neighborhood!

Move Minneapolis is made possible by a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant in partnership with the United States Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, the City of Minneapolis, MnDOT, and the downtown community.