Tag: commuting

2018 Spotlight Award from MassRIDES

At the recent president’s picnic, Carlos Robles from MassRIDES presented our own Shoshana Blank with our 2018 Spotlight Award.  MassRIDES is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) that works to reduce traffic condition and improve air quality in the state through partnerships with employers, colleges, and universities.

The Spotlight Award is given to companies and organizations that offer and incentivize sustainable commuting options. Tufts University was given an honorable mention for our various efforts to promote public transportation, biking, and other sustainable forms of transportation.

Many employees, staff, and students commute to Tufts Medford, Boston, SMFA and Grafton campuses on a daily basis. Sustainable transportation helps reduce traffic congestion, improves air quality, and supports strong local and regional economies.

Not only is biking and taking public transportation a more sustainable way to commute, it can also be a much more peaceful and rewarding endeavor! A driven commute during rush hours in Boston be incredibly stressful, so why not take public transportation instead? Instead of being stuck in stop-and-go traffic, you could be on a bus reading a book, or on a bike releasing some stress-relieving endorphins.

So how do we promote and facilitate public transportation here at Tufts?

Getting the word out:

All new staff hired at Tufts go through an orientation to encourage sustainable commuting. There, they are provided with information on programs like Bay State Commute and MassRIDE’s Emergency Ride Home which offer reimbursements and incentives for taking public transportation, carpooling, and biking. The Office of Sustainability also hands out commuting brochures to new students at all graduate student orientations and at a number of undergraduate orientation events.

Tufts Initiatives to Promote Sustainable Commuting:

  • This year Tufts started offering all of its employees a 35% discount on their MBTA passes .
  • Tufts Bikes, a student-run bikeshare, has 30 bicycles available for rent to encourage biking. Bikes and helmets are checked out just like library books, and can be kept for up to 8 hours.
  • We have 11 Zipcars on campus and the annual membership is discounted for students, staff, and faculty.
  • Shuttles connect the Medford/Somerville campus to the Davis Square train station, as well as to our SMFA campus in the Fenway. Live tracking of our shuttles is available on the Tufts Mobile app.
  • Students at the SMFA campus can receive Lyft credits for a Safe Ride between campus buildings.

Resources for Sustainable Commuting:

  • Our Sustainable Commuting brochures for the BostonGrafton, and SMFA campuses highlight many of the commuter benefit programs available to Tufts employees as well as information on MBTA discounts offered through Tufts, carshare and ride matching programs, and several public transportation options and routes.
  • Our Bike Guide publication and website illustrate where cyclists can lock up, get their bikes fixed at the FixIt station, and shower on campus.
  • The Tufts Eco-Map is available online, in print, as well as on the Tufts Mobile app and Google Maps. It shows features such as EV charging stations, Zipcars, Hubway bikes, Tufts Bikes bikeshare, MBTA bus stops, and Tufts shuttle stops.

 

The #MCBC2016 Countdown is ON!

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There are just 4 days left ’til the 2016 MassCommute Bicycle Challenge!

Here’s how you can gear up:

Sign Up the new webinar:  “Bike Commuting Decoded” (space is limited, we recommend signing up in advance)

Just in time for MCBC, we’ve partnered with our friends at MassBike to host a free webinar on Thursday, May 12th from 12:00-1:00 to explore the nuts & bolts of bike commuting. If you, or someone you know is part of the 60% of Americans who are interested in bike commuting but feel too concerned to start, this is the event for you.
Learn from the experts and ask questions about how you can make biking a part of your daily commute, during Bike Week and all year round!

Nominate Someone (or yourself!) for a Wheelie Award!

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The Wheelie Awards are a special way to recognize and honor cyclists who ride with a unique level of dedication and excitement. For example, do you know someone who rides their bike like a minivan? Nominate them for the Pack Mule Award! Know someone who fell in love while cycling? Nominate them for the Bicycle Love Story Award! You get the idea.

One winner will be selected in each of the following categories to win a special prize provided by the sponsor of that award ($200+ value!).  Award decisions are based on online written submissions, as well as accompanying photos and videos sent via email.

This year’s Wheelie Award Categories include:

…and last but not least…

Make Sure YOU (and/or your team) are Registered for the Challenge! 

If you registered for the Challenge in 2015, we still have all of your information. Just log back in with your email and password or click on the “Returning Users Login” button, and you’re good to go! If you are a new participant, or if you missed us in 2015, you will need to register through the MCBC website.

*Be sure to select “Tufts University” as your institution!

**If applicable, please indicate your employer in your registration settings so that the miles you log count towards your company’s totals!

Questions?
Email: MCBikeChallenge@masscommute.com

On Social Media? Let’s Connect!
Facebook: @Masscommutebicyclechallenge
Twitter: @MCBikeChallenge
Instagram: @MCBikeChallenge

Feb 28,29 & Mar 1,6: MBTA Medford/Somerville Public Service Cut Meetings

We wanted to bring to your attention the MTBA’s latest proposal to address its serious budget shortfall. The MBTA is proposing to eliminate some service to the Tufts Medford/Somerville campus and to reduce routes in and around Boston that may have a major impact on access for faculty, staff and students. Proposed changes would affect subway, bus and commuter rail.

The routes that would be affected include the #80 and #96 buses, serving Medford, as well as many others. The proposal also includes fare increases of 35% to 45%.

Please take a few minutes to review this information so that you will understand how these changes might affect your daily commute to work or other trips for which you rely on public transportation. Complete information is available at http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/?id=23567.

The MBTA has been holding meetings in affected communities to allow users of public transportation to express their concerns. We encourage you to add your voice so that MBTA officials understand the full impact of these proposed service eliminations. You can write a letter, send an email or attend one of the remaining scheduled meetings. Meeting dates and contact information are listed below.

Public meetings:

February 28th –Somerville High School Auditorium, 81 Highland Avenue, 6:00-8:00 pm (http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=23598)

February 29th – Cambridge City Hall Council Chambers, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, 6:00-8:00 pm (http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=23581)

March 1 – Waltham Government Center, 119 School Street, 6:00-8:00 pm (http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=23599)

March 6 – Brockton, Massasoit Community College, 1 Massasoit Boulevard, Liberal Arts Building, 6:00-8:00 pm (http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=23618)

A list of all public meeting dates and locations can be found at http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/.

Letters should be addressed to:

Fare Proposal
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3910
Boston, MA. 02116

Email address: fareproposal@mbta.com