Commuting Post-Pandemic Workplace Commuter Options Agenda - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Commuting Post-Pandemic

Workplace Commuter Options

Agenda

1. Introductions 2. Where Are We Now 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

WORKPLACE COMMUTER OPTIONS Green Action Centre works with workplaces and their employees to help with sustainable commuting programs. LIVING GREEN LIVING WELL Your source for tips and suggestions for living green, and living well.

OUR PROGRAMS

ACTIVE & SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL The Active and Safe Routes to School program encourages kids to walk and bike to school. COMMUTER CHALLENGE Delivers fun challenges that incentivize persons to choose active and sustainable modes of transportation. COMPOSTING Green Action Centre promotes composting for all Manitobans by providing information, resources and support. ENVIRONMENTAL SPEAKERS BUREAU The Environmental Speakers Bureau offers high-interest school presentations to teachers across Manitoba.

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Sustainable Transportation

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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!

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.

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

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

• 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...

Telecommuting Now

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

...Great work-from-home experiment!

Telecommuting Now

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

• 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
• ften post-pandemic [Research Co.]

Telecommuting post COVID-19

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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

Telecommuting Post COVID-19

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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

Telecommuting Post-COVID 19

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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!

Bike (Back) to Work

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Why Now?

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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.

Why Now?

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

• 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.

Message Framing

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Dust off the Bike

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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!)

Go for a Ride

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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

Make it a Habit

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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

Bike Back to Work

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

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

More Resources

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

For more information, videos, and resources, visit: bikesmakelifebetter.com

Nudging the Commute

Applying Behavioural Science

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Here are the key elements that can help ‘nudge’ people towards more sustainable commuting behaviours:

• Habits
• Intentions
• Behaviour change
• Timing
• Messaging
• Carrots & sticks

Habits

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

“The strongest predictor of your trip today is the trip you took yesterday.”

Intentions

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

People’s stated intentions are bad predictors of behaviour when habits are strong.

(“intention-action gap”)

Behaviour Change

Green Action Centre, 2020

Some 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

Timing

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Entrenched habits are more susceptible to change when the commuter has recently changed residence, place of work, or has experienced a significant disruption in routine.

Like COVID-19!

Messaging

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Proven communication strategies to motivate behaviour change:

• Frame your message in a way that capitalizes on the

motivation the individual already has

Example: exercise, cost-savings, social benefits, etc. (as opposed to ‘it’s the right thing to do’)

Messaging

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Proven communication strategies to motivate behaviour change:

• Be specific in the messaging

Example: hotel guests responded best to the message that “75% of people in this hotel room re-used their towels”

Messaging

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Proven communication strategies to motivate behaviour change:

• Provide comparisons to peers (co-workers, neighbours, etc.)

by showing who has made a commitment to behaviour change

Example: Provide sign-up sheet in lobby or common area

Carrots & Sticks

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Carrot (reward): The ability to win prizes during Commuter Challenge Stick (disincentive/consequence): Paying for parking Need to create: MORE friction for driving alone

and

LESS friction for walking, cycling, taking transit, and carpooling

Carrots & Sticks

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

Carrots:

• Create personalized sustainable commute plans for employees before
• ffices reopen (e.g. identify bike route for them to test ride)
• Assist to overcome barriers (e.g. access to a bike, child care, etc.)
• Allow more frequent telecommuting (e.g. 1-3 days/week)
• Make it easy and attractive (e.g. showers, bike storage, move monthly
• r annual parking to daily parking, etc.)
• Reward those who make a pledge/commitment to commute sustainably

and follow through with it

Sticks:

• Charge market rate for parking
• Remove parking spots or reallocate for bike or carpool parking

NOW is the time

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

With the proper timing, policies, and interventions, we can take advantage of the major disruption that COVID-19 has presented.

The time for change is right NOW.

Discussion

Green Action Centre May 27, 2020

1. Where is your organization at? 2. What do you think will happen with the commute? 3. What other threats or opportunities do you see? 4. Other thoughts, ideas, concerns?

CONTACT OUR TEAM

Nicole Roach nicole@greenactioncentre.ca challenge@greenactioncentre.ca Mel Marginet mel@greenactioncentre.ca Beth McKechnie beth@greenactioncentre.ca

Commuter Challenge

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