TravelSmart

TravelSmart is TransLink's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program that allows us to connect with customers on a personal level through a unique combination of face to face outreach, tools, resources, and strategic partnerships. By highlighting travel solutions that work within an individual’s lifestyle, TravelSmart aims to change the way that Metro Vancouverites view transportation and how they utilize it in their daily lives.

Whether your main mode of travel is walking, cycling, transit, or driving there are ways to reduce your costs, your impact on the environment, and your health by the transportation choices you make every day.

The TravelSmart team works in synergy with our planning and infrastructure projects to ensure that customers know about new and existing services and how they can utilize them. Specifically, through community/non-profit entities, seniors, newcomers, businesses, and school groups to ensure that residents and visitors to Metro Vancouver understand the sustainable transportation options available for their lifestyle.

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Upcoming Events

July 27 2017
Mayors' Council Meeting
August 12 2017
Fun City Festival
August 19 2017
Quayside Boardwalk Festival
See more events...

Programs
Partnerships

The TravelSmart team works with a variety of groups to promote smarter travel options.

TravelSmart for Business

Photo of one person holding an iPad and another pointing to it with a pen

Is your organization a strong supporter of sustainability? Are you challenged by the demand for parking or are you looking to relocate? Is your location hindering your ability to hire the best and brightest?

Transportation continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing businesses in our region today. Traffic congestion delays your employees getting to work, and goods getting to their destination.

A TravelSmart advisor can provide your organization with an expert-level, strategic approach to employee commuting, and transportation issues.

How can your business benefit?

Manage the demand for parking
Improve recruitment and retention
Achieve your corporate social responsibility goals
Resources when relocating
Sharing success stories

What is included?

Site audit and assessment
Measurement tool for employee mode choice and level of interest in trying something new
Employee engagement through lunch n’ learns, onsite events, and communications
Online tracker for company campaigns
On-going support
Resource materials
Knowledge network of best practices and lessons learned from others

How do your employees benefit?

Access to tools and resources that increase their knowledge of transportation mode options
Improved health and morale
More productive use of time
Reduced commuting costs

Resources

TravelSmart for Newcomers

Metro Vancouver attracts and welcomes thousands of new residents and millions of tourists each year. With the population of Metro Vancouver predicted to grow by 1 million people by 2040, the region receives over 20,000 new residents annually. Transportation is key to newcomers settling into their new home successfully.

Working with individual newcomers, settlement service agencies, and community groups and facilities throughout the region, we provide newcomers with tools, resources, and tips on how to effectively use public transit and other modes of sustainable transportation.

We provide:

Travel training seminars
Online tools workshop (trip planning, how to use Compass etc.)
Safety, security, and etiquette tips
Take away resources, materials, and incentives

Addressing language barriers

We understand many of our new residents have difficulties with English. That's why we work with Settlement Services Providers and other community partners to offer resources in other languages:

Travel training seminar in Cantonese, Mandarin, and in other languages with interpreters provided by partnering agencies
Offer take away resources and materials in other languages

Settlement Services Providers

TransLink offers frontline Settlement Services Workers with the transportation information they need to help newcomers settle. We provide Train the Trainer sessions for staff and volunteers to support them with the tools and information they need to assist newcomers.

TravelSmart for Schools

Understanding smart and sustainable travel options is a great way for kids to create a lifetime appreciation of the importance of transportation choices for their health, safety, and the environment.

The TravelSmart Schools program helps provide students, teachers, school districts, and parents with the support and resources they need to get inspired about sustainable transportation, environmental and health issues of the region, and tools to take action.

How can schools benefit from TravelSmart savvy students?

Reduce traffic congestion around the school
Become environmental stewards for their neighbourhood
Help reduce air pollution
Encourage a healthier lifestyle
Make the school zone a safer place

What do students learn?

Transportation problems and the range of solutions
Transportation mode options
Health and safety issues related to transportation
Public speaking
Event planning
Critical thinking
Environmental stewardship
Team dynamics
Social marketing

What makes this program appealing?

Students figure out what the transportation problem around their school really is and come up with a campaign to change it.
Students become advocates and have a real voice in the community
TravelSmart facilitators support, coach and provide expert advice to the student groups.
When campaigns are finished, students get to show the world what they did. They show their results to their peers, other schools and their community. They are recognized for their work and have the opportunity to see the real impact of their influence.
Students learn from the best. Whether they listen to a guest speaker or connect with other organizations, they build their environmental network. Students build on leadership skills and networks to exchange knowledge and skills.

What does the program include?

Workshops about transportation issues and solutions
Advice on how to design and launch a transportation campaign
On-going teacher support
Links and contacts with experts in the field who can help you
Resource materials

What resources are available?

TravelSmart for Seniors

By 2025, 1 in 4 Canadians will be over 60 years of age. Seniors are living longer and are more active than ever before.

Working with Senior Centers and advocacy groups throughout the region, we provide seniors with information on the wide array of transportation options available.

We provide:

Sustainable transportation overview
Travel training seminars
Online tools workshop
Safety, security, and etiquette tips
Take away resources, materials, and incentives
Train the Trainers sessions for staff and volunteers

The TravelSmart team works with a variety of corporate and government partners to ensure that Metro Vancouverites are aware of smarter travel options. Whether you’re planning a community event, providing services to new British Columbians, or concerned with getting your employees to and from work — we can help!

TravelSmart works with the following service partners to deliver our programs throughout the region.

Municipalities: We work with local Metro Vancouver governments to implement transportation demand management programs tailored to each community.

Community and Non-Profit Organizations: TravelSmart has formed partnerships with organizations and community groups to promote demand management initiatives through events, businesses and campaigns. Some of these include the Vancouver Marathon, Children's & Women's Health Centre of BC, Vancouver Art Gallery, BC Lions & the Grey Cup Festival, FIFA Women's World Cup, Car Free Days, Bar Watch, Tourism Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health, the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, ICBC, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, and many more!

Partnership Inquiries

If you're interested in a partnership or business relationship with TravelSmart, complete the community sponsorship form and we'll review and respond to your submission.

Contact Us

If your group (company, school or organization) would like to talk about how you can reduce single occupant vehicle use and promote sustainable transportation options, please contact us at: travelsmart@translink.ca.