How Do You Move?

Planes, trains, and automobiles… Or none of the above? This axiom of the modern transportation age is undergoing a shift. Bikes, shared vehicles, buses could be more the mantra of the future.

Leave No Trace recently explored its positioning in the world of alternative modes of transportation and cumulative environmental effects through a Transportation Reduction Audit. This survey was conducted among all full-time and part-time personnel at the Center’s headquarters in Boulder, and once completed, was turned over to the City of Boulder for analysis.

As Leave No Trace decided to undertake this internal assessment of it’s own will, in an attempt to maintain a high standard of environmental responsibility within the community and vis-à-vis the global community, there was much interest and excitement in what feedback this survey had to offer.

Overall, the outcome was indicative of Leave No Trace’s high standard of trip reduction and alternative transportation within the office, and in comparison with the Boulder community. A few of the notable findings included:

• Leave No Trace’s drive alone (single occupant vehicle or SOV) mode share of 46.5% already meets the city of Boulder’s 2020 goal for work trips of 47%. The 2025 goal is to reduce the average SOV mode share to 40% for work trips for all Boulder businesses. Overall, Leave No Trace’s SOV mode share is significantly lower than the Boulder business average of 69% SOV mode share.
• Vehicle Trip Rate is a measure of how many vehicles are used to bring 100 employees to the work site. Since the average VTR for Boulder businesses is 73, Leave No Trace is clearly contributing significantly to the city of Boulder’s commute trip and emission reduction goals.
• Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per Week: 157 miles total for work trips by all employees 
• Work Trip CO2 Emissions: 7,972 lbs per year 

Though these represent just a few of the findings, a tuned list of barriers to increased use of alternative modes of transportation, as well as recommendations on how to overcome these barriers, provides exciting next steps for the Center to take. Stay tuned for ideas and updates on alternative transportation developments to be discussed in a future blog!