Commuting Post-Pandemic Workplace Commuter Options
Agenda Introductions 1. Where Are We Now 2. 3. What Happens Next 4. Work-From-Home Now (and Then) 5. Bike (Back) to Work 6. Nudging the Commute 7. Discussion Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
About Us Green Action Centre is a non-profit environmental organization based in Winnipeg, serving all of Manitoba. Our primary areas of focus are sustainable transportation, composting and waste reduction, sustainable living, and resource conservation. Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
OUR PROGRAMS ACTIVE & SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL COMPOSTING Green Action Centre promotes composting The Active and Safe Routes to School for all Manitobans by providing information, program encourages kids to walk and resources and support. bike to school. COMMUTER CHALLENGE ENVIRONMENTAL SPEAKERS BUREAU Delivers fun challenges that incentivize The Environmental Speakers Bureau offers persons to choose active and sustainable high-interest school presentations to modes of transportation. teachers across Manitoba. WORKPLACE COMMUTER OPTIONS LIVING GREEN LIVING WELL Your source for tips and suggestions for Green Action Centre works with living green, and living well. workplaces and their employees to help with sustainable commuting programs. Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Sustainable Transportation The Sustainable Transportation team at Green Action Centre works with employers, schools, policy makers, community stakeholders, and the public to support sustainable mode shifts in Manitoba. Presentations – Green Commuting, Bike Route Planning, Cycling Skills, Bike Maintenance, Greening the Workplace, etc. Bike Blender – Rent to make treats at a corporate event GoManitoba – Match with a carpool partner on our FREE app GoHappy – Workplace Commuting Consulting Services Events - Commuter Challenge, Jack Frost Challenge, Bike to School Month, WalkTober, Clean Air Day, and more! Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Where Are We Now Missing the commute ● Half of Canadian employees working from home ● Work and home life meshing together ● There is no commute to provide a transitional buffer ● Some miss the exercise, time to think or relax, time to be alone during commute ● Consistency, routine is gone
Where Are We Now What about those going to the workplace now and other trips? Provincial guidance on how to minimize your risk of exposure when Carpooling, taking Transit or a Taxi: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/infomanitobans/transportation.html Walking : Stay 2+ metres from others, wear a mask, go solo or with your pod, minimize touch-points, and go at off-peak hours (if possible) Cycling: Stay 10+ metres from others outside of your family pod, wear a mask, and go at off-peak hours (if possible)
What Happens Next? Threats and Opportunities ● Continued interest in working from home, part or full time ● Concerns around safety of shared ridership (transit, carpooling) ● Boom in cycling and walking - seen as safer modes ● Driving alone considered safer - congestion, parking demand ● General acceptance that a 2nd wave is coming
The Great Work-From-Home Experiment Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Telecommuting Before COVID-19 ● Managers concerned about productivity levels, lacked experience with remote supervision ● Employees concerned about promotion opportunities if not visible and the lack of social interaction ● Distractions, many reasons it's hard to work from home ● Doesn’t work for every role or person ● Result? Low uptake Then along came COVID-19 and the... Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Telecommuting Now ...Great work-from-home experiment! Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Telecommuting Now ● Half of the Cdn workforce (still employed) were working from home on March 22nd – 70% for the first time ! [Stats Can] ● Many employers scrambled to provide access to equipment and software, set up reporting protocols ● But this is not “normal” telecommuting – “digital by default” However... ● 65% of workers would like to continue to work from home more often post-pandemic [Research Co.] Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Telecommuting post COVID-19 What’s this got to do with commuting? 1. Eliminates the commute 2. Reduces GHG emissions 3. Contributes to better air quality 4. Lessens demand for parking 5. Signals employer cares about environment 6. Can help employee recruitment Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Telecommuting Post COVID-19 Preparing for the return to the workplace: ● anticipate return will be gradual and phased, staggered times ● shift from temporary emergency response to ongoing formalized work-from-home policy ● becomes “opt-in” work from home vs. involuntary ● gather information now and review lessons learned Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Telecommuting Post-COVID 19 What is needed to support and formalize ongoing, permanent work-from-home arrangements? ● Improved access to technology, equipment, broadband ● More virtual collaboration for casual conversations ● Review suitability of different roles/people for telecommuting ● Train managers on remote supervision and reporting ● Set guidelines on work hours and productivity expectations Learn from lessons during this great experiment! Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Bike (Back) to Work Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Why Now? 1. Disruption in routine - the best time to influence people to change is when their habits are in flux and they are open to trying new things. 2. Captive audience - life as we know it has largely moved online and our digital media diet has increased sharply. More people are signing up for webinars, reading newsletters, and clicking. Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Why Now? 3. Biking is the new “going out” - biking is one of the few options people have for going anywhere. Biking can help people get groceries, exercise, and a healthy dose of nature. 4. Fewer vehicles - with shelter in place orders, vehicle traffic has been significantly reduced. With this major barrier to biking reduced, at least for now, this is a great time to encourage people to try biking. 5. Bikes have more cultural cachet - bikes now represent freedom, the world outside, an escape. It can also remind people of their childhood or simpler times spent biking. Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Message Framing Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Dust off the Bike Here are some ideas to help move folks from the “interested, but concerned” to try cycling. 1. Educational videos 2. One-on-one consultations & route planning 3. Live demos, classes, or Q&As 4. Send them to a shop 5. Promote cycling & cycling media (Ensure bikes are being dusted off AND tuned up!) Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Go for a Ride Once folks have their bike dusted off, it is time for them to go for a ride. People tend to have lots of questions at this stage, so education and resources are key for first-timers. Consider sharing content that covers: 1. How to fit a helmet 2. ABC quick-check 3. What gear to choose 4. Basic rules of the road 5. How to plan a route Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Make it a Habit Developing a new habit takes work and dedication, so providing new riders with incentives to keep going can help, such as participating in the Commuter Challenge. You can also encourage: 1. Test riding to work 2. Solo riding challenges 3. Making it a mission or adventure 4. Promoting family riding 5. Signing a cycling pledge Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Bike Back to Work When shelter in place orders continue lifting, the goal is to encourage those who took up biking during the pandemic to stick with it post-pandemic. 1. Celebrate cyclists - finding some ways to celebrate cyclists, whether through a party or rewards, can go a long way 2. Make accommodations - make sure that bike commuters have a good experience when they return to work, e.g. bike parking, showers, lockers, flexible hours, and relaxed dress code Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
More Resources For more information, videos, and resources, visit: bikesmakelifebetter.com Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Nudging the Commute
Applying Behavioural Science Here are the key elements that can help ‘nudge’ people towards more sustainable commuting behaviours: ● Habits ● Intentions ● Behaviour change ● Timing ● Messaging ● Carrots & sticks Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Habits “ The strongest predictor of your trip today is the trip you took yesterday. ” Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Intentions People’s stated intentions are bad predictors of behaviour when habits are strong. (“ intention-action gap ”) Green Action Centre May 27, 2020
Behaviour Change S ome effective intervention strategies include: ● Automatic opt-in to programs Example: Default enrollment in Eco-Pass program ● Change the environment Example: Remove free parking spaces at workplace ● Compare individual consumption or actions to neighbours/peers Example: Post Commuter Challenge pledges/results in highly visible spot Green Action Centre, 2020
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