Environmental Transportation

Environment Smart Commute, Using Technology to Improve Your Commute - 2021-11-16

Presented by Julia Hamill, introduced by Kim Stemshorn

• Part of Toronto’s climate action strategy to reduce Green House Gases (GHGs)

• Transport options: car, carpool, walk, bike

• Overview of apps and technologies to plan your trips

  • Google Maps
    • Avoid busy times and check when a public transit station is crowded or not crowded
      • See weekly statistics
    • Filter routes (bus, train, subways, transfer to drive/ride service)
    • Layers: Cycling, traffic, issues
      • Use cycling layer for checking best routes
      • Integrates with Bike Share to see stations (mobile only)
  • Smart Commute Tool
    • Best to see carpool or bike/walk partners
    • Track commutes/telework to see GHG, time savings
    • Connect apps to tool to help with logging
  • Triplinx.ca
    • Can combine walking and transit using options
  • All tools are accessible
  • Bike Share Toronto
    • Good for last step commutes to connect longer walking distances with transit
  • Mobile Apps for transit, all free:
    • Rocketman - provides real time bus schedule and volume, supports alerts
    • Transit App - same as Rocketman for real time
      • Integrates with Uber, car share information
      • Accessible
    • Citymapper
      • Suggest subway entrances
      • Helps walk routes and safer routes like main streets
      • Can work offline
    • Moovit
      • Real time

• Why optimize your commute?

  • Improve health
  • Increase quality of life
  • Help our city move better
  • Contribute to TransformTO’s climate action goals
  • Through its TransformTO climate action strategy
    • City set two transportation-related goals
    • 2050 all vehicles in Toronto will use low-carbon energy
    • Net zero by 2040
    • 75% of all trips within 5km are done by walking, cycling, or on public transit.

• Example commutes: putting it all into action

  • Travel from York Mills to Bathurst and Bloor
    • Use subway, get off earlier
    • Use Bike Share stations closer and go rest of way
  • Oakville to Toronto:
    • Triplinx suggests use GO Transit and TTC default route
    • Start modifying Triplinx route:
      • Ask for fastest route
      • Add bike or not and bike network
      • Result is a new bike ride for a healthier commute and a shorter commute time
  • Mississauga to Vaughan
    • Smart Commute suggests a carpool as the fastest

• Feeling overwhelmed? How to get started!

  • Start small, pick one tool/technology
  • Invite a friend to try it out
  • Practice

• Q&A

  • Bike locker program with City of Toronto, also bike stations monitored at City Hall, Union and Finch
  • Bike can be brought on GO train, exception is peak hours/peak routes. Same with TTC. Foldable bikes are allowed carried
  • Inter regional trips recommendations:
    • Google Maps and Triplinx were best in past
    • Carpool
      • Smart Commute app can filter and keep things private. It is best to meet the person first such as a coffee to talk about expectations, rules (where to meet, late, stops on the way)
  • Emergency trip - $75 for reimbursement for certain emergencies (e.g. sickness)
  • How to join Smart Commute as a client? contact Smart Commute for helping your workplace