This Saturday, July 9th at 10 a.m. meet at the Whiteaker Community Center map and join the smarttripscentral team for an art walk through the Whiteaker neighborhood ending at MECCA (Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts) for fun, all ages recycled craft projects. From sock monkeys to magnetic puzzles, your imagination is the limit. Invite your friends and neighbors, everyone is welcome.

Mark your calendars for this Tuesday, June 28th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Learn basic or advanced skills to work on your own bike, save money and improve the efficiency and comfort of your ride.

Local bike instructor, Alexander, will teach basic bike maintenance skills from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and advanced skills from 7:45 p.m. to 8:30. All skill levels welcome. Come for one or both!

If you can’t make it on Tuesday, join us again on Thursday, August 11th from 6:30-8:30 at César E. Chávez Elementary, between the parking lot and the Fern Ridge Bike Path.

 Please pass on this internship opportunity:

********************

SmartTrips Bicycle Delivery Intern –

City of Eugene Public Works, Transportation Planning Team,

SmartTrips Eugene is looking for two energetic bike riding interns for a 3.5 month position to process and deliver hundreds of packages to central Eugene homes. Job duties include data entry, computer mapping, bike delivery, and some event planning/attendance and program evaluation. Must be self-motivated, able to work independently, work well in a team environment, and be a friendly-face to the public. Knowledge of Eugene’s bikeway network and other non-motorized methods of getting around town are important.

In addition to the above listed job duties, one intern will be responsible with helping assist the program manager with maintaining the program website and other social media outlets.  The other intern will be tasked with recruiting and coordinating volunteers for our final event of the season.  This event is a Ciclovia/Sunday Parkways  (www.portlandsundayparkways.com) style event that will take place September 18, 2011.  Interns will be matched with job duties that incorporate their experience, skills and strengths.

 Approximately 20 – 30 hours per week, $10-12/per hour based on experience.   June 1^st through September 18^th 2011 (rain or shine).

 Apply by May 23rd with cover letter and resume to Lindsay Selser, City of Eugene – Transportation Planning, 99 E. Broadway, Ste. 400, Eugene OR 97401 or email at Lindsay.r.selser@ci.eugene.or.us .

 About SmartTrips Eugene:

SmartTrips Eugene is a comprehensive approach to reduce drive-alone trips and increase biking, walking, carpool and public transit in targeted geographic areas of the city.  It incorporates an innovative and highly effective individualized marketing methodology, that hand-delivers packets of information to residents who wish to learn more about all of their transportation options including transit, walking, bicycling, carpooling, and combining trips.  Key components feature biking and walking maps and organized activities that get people out in their neighborhoods or places of employment to shop, work, and discover how many trips they can easily, conveniently, and safely make without using a car.  Success is tracked by evaluating qualitative and quantitative results from surveys and other performance measures.   SmartTrips programs in other locations have achieved a reduction in Vehicle Miles Traveled of up to 13% in each targeted neighborhood.

 For more information please contact, Lindsay Selser, SmartTrips Eugene Program Manager at 541.682.5094 or Lindsay.r.selser@ci.eugene.or.us .

CONTACT: Lindsay Selser, SmartTrips Eugene Program Manager, 541-682-5094.

$100,000 EPA Grant To Help Eugene Neighborhoods Explore SmartTrips Options.

A new project to promote environmentally friendly commuting in Eugene got a $100,000 boost from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week.

SmartTrips Eugene is designed to reduce drive-alone trips and increase biking, walking, and public transit in targeted geographic areas of the city. A pilot project will start in the Harlow neighborhood this summer. The EPA announced today that Eugene will receive a $104,126 EPA Climate Showcase Communities grant to continue the program in 2011, making it possible to offer this program to the Trainsong, Jefferson/Westside and Whiteaker neighborhoods.  The 2011 SmartTrips program will provide customized outreach to approximately 12,000 residents.

Eugene was one of 20 U.S. communities to receive a total of $7.8 million in grants to reduce greenhouse gases. It’s estimated that by 2012 these 20 projects will reduce about 135,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually – equal to the emissions from 25,000 passenger vehicles – and save more than $4.5 million per year in energy costs.

SmartTrips Eugene incorporates an innovative and individualized marketing program that hand-delivers packets of information to residents who wish to learn more about transportation options including transit, walking, bicycling, carpooling, and combining trips.  Key components feature biking and walking maps and organized activities that get people out in their neighborhoods or places of employment to discover how many trips they can easily, conveniently, and safely make without using a car.

“It’s great to see a city make it easy for citizens to use environmentally friendly ways of getting around,” said Michelle Pirzadeh, Deputy Regional Administrator for the EPA. “We’re excited to support this initiative. It’s a big step in the right direction to energy efficiency.”

Most of the Harlow neighborhood and a portion of the Cal Young neighborhood will be included in the 2010 pilot program.  The SmartTrips Eugene pilot program is funded through a separate federal grant from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant program.  Close proximity to downtown and the University of Oregon and good pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure were among the considerations used to select the target neighborhoods for the SmartTrips Eugene project.

# # #