It’s that time of year again.  The Ann Arbor Art Fairs will descend upon downtown Ann Arbor from Weds. July 16-Sat. July 19th.

Because the Art Fair’s close many downtown streets and parking prices increasing during this time, you might be looking for other commuting options during this time.

getDowntown has created a page on our website with info on Art Fair Commuting, from which streets will be closed, to what you need to know to get around.

Check it out here: www.getdowntown.org/resources/Commuting_during_Art_Fair.html

Good news! The DDA just put in a bunch more Moped and Motorcycle Parking Spaces in downtown, including some over at Catherine and Fourth, close to Kerrytown.

To view all of the Moped and Motorcycle Spaces, click here.

If you’ve been riding the bus more lately (or for the first time) you’re not alone.

In an article in the Ann Arbor News today, John Mulcahy reports that more and more people are riding AATA buses.  One of the primary reasons cited in the article is the rise in gas prices.

While many of the riders on the buses are affiliated with the UM, the article reports that recently, some of the ridership increases are due to other, non-UM folk riding the bus.

And, as reported in the article, I am seeing increased use of the go!pass, which allows downtown employees to ride the buses for free.

The one thing the article doesn’t talk about is that more people riding the bus doesn’t mean more bus service.  Apparently, since fare revenue (the amount a person pays to use the bus) is so low relative to the total cost of operating a bus, it’s hard to increase service when lots more people ride the bus.

In some ways, I am ok with this.  The bus is like a public good, and it’s important that the cost is kept low so that all sorts of people can use the service.  However, in other ways, this really frustrates me because it means that we must rely on government or other sources of funding to increase service.  And it’s not always easy to get that money.

I hope that as more and more people ride the bus, more people will see the value of having excellent bus service.  This in turn will demonstrate to policy makers (and perhaps private companies) that all of us want a high level of bus service, rail service, etc.

So in all, I think it’s fantastic that there are more people riding the bus.  Let’s keep showing our support for public transit, both by riding the bus and by speaking out about the need for high quality service.

So I just parked by bike over at the Ann/Ashley parking structure today and saw something I’ve never seen before: all of the moped/motorcycle spaces in that lot were being used!

The reason this is so surprising is because I had been told that these spots are never full.

I’m seeing the same phenomenon with non-motorized bikes.  It seems like everywhere I turn downtown there is a bike parked at a bike hoop, or on a sign, or on a tree.

Now, I’ve not worked downtown before, so perhaps the increase in bikes and bikers happens just like this every summer.  But I wonder if it’s even more pronounced this year because of gas prices.

That’s the problem with observation . . . you can see something, but you don’t really know if it’s statistically accurate or not.

So, I’d be really interested in hearing from folks who have recently started biking to work (either on a bike or a moped/motorcycle) as a result of high gas prices, or for another reason.

You can email me your thoughts at getdowntown@annarborchamber.org

If you haven’t already read The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell, I definitely recommend it.  The Tipping Point is commonly described as “any point when a gradual change quickens and becomes irreversible”.

Some people are wondering if we have reached this point with sustainable transportation because of high gas prices.

That’s the idea discussed in this recent Wall Street Journal Article.

But I don’t think you need to read the article to see what’s going on.  More people that ever are getting on the bus, biking, walking, carpooling, etc. I definitely see this happening in Ann Arbor, where the number of people participating in the Commuter Challenge almost doubled from last year.

I have heard many people remark that they have carpooled, biked, taken the bus, etc. for the first time recently.

So how do you change people’s behavior?  I think gas prices can definitely help.

Hello all,

Looks like we will still be going ahead with the Green Fair, Bike Fest and Green Commute since the forecast is only calling for a 40% chance of rain.  So do the no rain dance and come on down!

It’s all happening between 6pm-9pm on Main Street and Liberty Street in Downtown Ann Arbor

As part of the Mayor’s Green Fair, getDowntown is helping organize a Bike Fest and Green Commute section of the Green Fair.  We will have tons or great activities, including rides on the Seven Person Conference Bike, an AATA Hybrid Bus, a Zipcar, and much much more!

Read all about Bike Fest Here

Read all about Green Commute Here

There has been a lot of publicity recently about Oakland County’s decision to go with a 4-day workweek for employees.

It’s an interesting solution to increasing gas prices and is something that many workers seem interested in.

For a job like mine where I am in meetings an/or on the computer most of the day, this could be very doable. I could schedule my meetings for the days I am at work and have more time during my days off to work in the garden.

I think we might see more organizations looking towards a four day workweek as gas prices continue to increase. In Ann Arbor, we have about 90,000 people coming in from outside the City limits each day, some of them traveling as far away as Toledo, Lansing, etc.

I’d love to hear from others if they are considering this kind of idea.

On Sunday there was an editorial in the Ann Arbor News that discussed the challenges faced by our region (and nation) as we try encourage people to drive less and bike and bus more.

The editorial describes many of the issues I face over here at the getDowntown program.  We need individuals to look at changing their habits so that demand for sustainable transportation increases.  We need regional policies and solutions that demonstrate a commitment to public transit and non-motorized transportation.

As the organizer of Curb Your Car Month, I can tell you that I am seeing both happening right now.  People are changing their habits.  $4.00 gas is a strong motivator.  An article in the New York Times illustrates that people are driving less and using public transportation more as a result of high gas prices.

And it is happening here as well.  Even before Curb Your Car Month the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority had record ridership numbers.  Even before Curb Your Car Month, more people have purchased go!passes from getDowntown than they did in the last several years.

And now as Curb Your Car Month comes to a close, I can tell you that many people have tried something new, be it biking, busing or carpooling and are seeing the benefits.  And these benefits, I believe, will extend far beyond this month.

I have a lot more to say on this topic, but limited time.  Hopefully, I can write more later, and you can, too.  I also wrote about this topic for Concentrate.  You can check out what I said here.

However, I would like to respond to the end the the News editorial, which states:

“Do we need demand before investment? Or do we build more rail systems and bus services and bike lanes, believing that people will use them if available?”

We need both.  And both are happening.  I fully believe that infrastructure sends a clear message to people saying “this is important and it matters to us.”  When there are bike lanes in the street, that let’s people know that bicyclists belong in the street.  When we create new Commuter Bus services, that means we want people to consider using other forms of transportation instead of driving their cars.

And frankly, I think it is unfair to say that because not that many people are using the Ann Arbor Chelsea Commuter Bus now it is a failure.  Initially the Link didn’t have great ridership numbers, and now it is doing very well.

Another piece of the puzzle for many people is assistance using public transportation.  It’s not always easy to figure out which bus route or bike route to take.  I hope that getDowntown can help employees when they do want to change their behavior.  All they have to do is email me!

Finally, I am extremely optimistic about the future of public transportation in this region.  I see many political, community, and business leaders pushing for rail systems and better non-motorized transportation.   I think we are well positioned to move forward in our region.  Let’s keep it moving!

That’s what I have to say on this topic.  I’d love to hear what you have to say.  Please comment or write a Letter to the Editor by emailing letters@annarbornews.com.

I just got the following info from the AATA.  Overall, I think they did a good job listening to citizens and didn’t make some changes that would have been hard for many people.

They are not going to eliminate any service on the 13.

Another great change is that the AATA is going to add service on the #8 Pauline bus, which will mean it will run every 15 minutes during morning and afternoon peak hours.

In terms of some negatives, they are going to stop running the 12UL, but since the #8 Pauline bus will be running down Liberty when it goes downtown, this should be ok for some.

Also, they are going to be having service to the Miller Rd. Park and Ride Lot every 20 minutes.

For the most part, I think the changes are ok.  I work with the AATA on a regular basis and hope they continue to find ways to increase service.  With gas at $4.00 a gallon, it is clear we need more service.

So here’s the stuff about the service changes:

AATA Board approves revised service changes

Following extensive public input on proposed service changes, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) Board of Directors carefully considered the public’s concerns and approved a revised list of changes at its May 21 meeting.

The service changes will take effect on Sunday, August 24, 2008.

Overall, the changes are designed to add service during morning and afternoon peak hours, and improve on-time performance on routes where this has been a problem, including the 4, 1U and 12UM routes. The changes will improve service to the Miller Road Park & Ride lot and add service to the new Skyline High School.

Service reductions are planned in lower productivity service during midday, evening, and weekend hours on Routes 7, 12UL, 14 and 16.

Of the original 28 proposed changes, 17 were adopted as proposed, four were adopted with modifications and seven were not adopted, as a result of the public input.

Here is a list of the Changes (going to effect on Sunday, August 24, 2008)

Route 1U - Pontiac-University

• Timing will be adjusted on this route to improve on-time performance.

Route 4 – Washtenaw

• Multiple changes are designed to improve the reliability and frequency of the route in Ann Arbor without adding to rider’s travel time or adding a large number of additional service hours. Details of the changes will be included on the AATA web site when the maps and schedules are produced and posted.

Route 7 - South Main-East

• The 10:18 p.m. trip leaving the Blake Transit Center will end at Eisenhower and South Industrial.
• The loop now serving Kerrytown will be eliminated.
• A trip from the Blake Transit Center to the Pioneer High Park & Ride Lot will be added at 10:48 p.m.

Route 8 - Pauline

• Frequency of weekday service during morning and afternoon peak hours will be increased to every 15 minutes.
• The additional service will use Liberty Street to travel inbound to the Blake Transit Center (BTC). Service on Route 8 will be through-routed with the #2 Plymouth route. That is, a bus arriving at the BTC on Route 8 will depart as a #2 bus to enable riders to travel to and from the University of Michigan (U-M) campus and medical center without changing buses.

Route 9U - Jackson-University

• The route will be moved away from Maple Village to the Miller Road Park & Ride Lot. Service will be provided on North Maple Road between Dexter Road and Miller Road. No service will be provided on Jackson Road.

Route 12UL - Liberty-University

• The route will be eliminated.

Route 12UM - Miller-University

• Peak Hour Service: Service to and from the Miller Road Park & Ride Lot will be increased to every 20 minutes. Service to the new Skyline High School will be added.
• Midday Service: Service will operate every 30 minutes between the Miller Road Park & Ride Lot/Skyline High School and the Blake Transit Center, resulting in service every 15 minutes on Miller Road.

Route 14 - Geddes-East Stadium

• Peak Hour Service: During peak hour service, the route will be shortened to operate between Pioneer High School and U-M Medical Center (Mott) and time will be added to improve on-time performance.
• The #14 and #9U route service will be through-routed at Mott. That is, a #14 bus that arrives at Mott will depart as a #9U bus to enable #14 riders to travel to and from the U-M campus and downtown without changing buses.
• Midday Service: Midday service will be eliminated.

Route 16 - Ann Arbor-Saline Road

• Service will be eliminated on two loops along the route: 1) William, Thompson and Hill streets and 2) OakValley east of Lohr, Ellsworth and Lohr Road south of Oak Valley. A third loop on Oakbrook, Main and Eisenhower streets will be shortened to use Northbrook rather than Main.

Once revised, maps and schedules showing the changes will be posted on the AATA web site, www.TheRide.org.

Route and schedule questions may be directed to AATA at 734.996.0400.