Have you ever wondered how Portland became such a great cycling city? Look no further than the people, organizations and programs that are invested in building a rich community of cyclists through promoting cycling as an alternate means of transportation. Drive Less, Save More is one of those organizations, and they’re changing the face of our community.

Launched in 2006 by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Drive Less, Save More raises awareness about the practical, economic and environmental benefits of improving the way in which ODOT manages our transportation system. Reducing individual car trips is one of the main goal, and, bicycles are a big part of the solution, while public transit, carpooling and ride-sharing are emphasized as well.

Here’s the rundown from their website:

“Traffic congestion takes a heavy toll on residents, our economy and the environment. Oregon’s population is projected to grow exponentially, and traffic will only get worse unless action is taken.

Compounding the problem is the fact that there are insufficient funds to build new roads on a sizable scale. Part of the solution is to better manage the demand put on our transportation system and maximize its capacity. That’s the primary aim of Drive Less Save More.

Launched in 2006 by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Metro and its public and private partners, Drive Less Save More seeks to reduce individual car trips as an integral part of a larger solution to addressing traffic congestion. The goal is to raise public awareness about the benefits of driving less through trip chaining and other smart driving strategies, such as riding transit, carpooling, vanpooling, ridesharing, telecommuting, biking and/or walking. Today, Drive Less Save More has expanded beyond the Portland metro area into Salem, Eugene/Springfield, Medford and Bend.”

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