In this edition...
  • 3 Days of Car-Free MSP Celebrations
  • Day 1 - WEBINAR
  • Day 2 - Bike & Ride Grand Opening
  • Day 3 - Transportation Exhibitors on Nicollet Mall
  • Move Minneapolis Services for Employees
  • Better Parking Options with FlexPass
For the sixth year, Move Minneapolis celebrates World Car-Free Day - a day to imagine transportation without being dependent on the automobile. Move Minneapolis presents Car-Free MSP 2021 with three days of virtual and in-person events September 21 – 23.

After 18 Months, What’s New?
Today’s workforce does not have to go back to a stressful, congested, carbon-heavy, pre-pandemic mindset of drive-alone commuting. Move Minneapolis can help you and your workplace during Car-Free MSP…and beyond. We can help provide a little transportation coaching and offer some new commuting tools.
  • DAY 1 - Tues, Sept. 21, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST, WEBINAR:
"(When You) Return To Downtown"

For the past 18 months the pandemic closed most downtown offices, employees teleworked from home. About one third of the workforce is now back at the office, more are returning on a staggered schedule this fall and winter. As much as COVID has had a devastating impact on us all, workers returning to the office will find some welcome improvements to their commutes. This webinar highlights the new programs and infrastructure that didn’t exist pre-pandemic. Improvements to make the “return to downtown” easier, faster, and more climate friendly. Join this lively discussion about new transportation options employers and employees will want to know about.
 
  • Metro Transit has discounted all rides for Sept – Oct
  • Transit expanded service into the North Loop
  • The Orange Line (BRT) from Burnsville to downtown is set to launch in the fall
  • The Lake Street Transit Station opening just weeks from now
  • ABC Ramps Mobility Hub expanded its sustainable commuting options
  • New downtown off-street bike lanes cross downtown
  • A new Bike & Ride provides bicycle commuters with FREE secure park bike parking
 
WEBINAR Speakers:
  • Yumi Nagaoka, Outreach Coordinator, Metro Transit
  • Juan Rangel, Community Outreach Coordinator, Metro Transit
  • Michel Wong, Marketing Manager, ABC Ramps Mobility Hub
  • Tony Drollinger, Commuter Programs Specialist, Metro Transit 
  • Dan Miller, Co-Chair Engineering Sub-Committee, City of Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee

  • Day 2 - Wed, Sept. 22, 11 am – 1 pm:

Grand Opening of the Bike & Ride
FREE Secure Bike Parking @ Ramp B
 


Join us for the grand opening celebration of the Bike & Ride taking place on Twins Plaza next to the Kirby Puckett statue on Wed. 9.22, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

  • Ribbon Cutting at Noon
  • Register for FREE Bike & Ride Access Cards
  • Get a FREE pair of legendary Metro Transit biking socks

The Bike & Ride is a secure storage facility for your bike that's free to use. Register with any Metro Transit fare card (Go-To Card, Metropass, UPass, College Pass) and once confirmed, just tag your card on the reader to enter the facility, then lock your bike up at a rack inside. Don't have card? Metro Transit will be there with access cards and you can register for access on the spot - and get a pair of free Metro Transit biking socks! For more information, visit Bike & Ride
  • DAY 3 - Thur, Sept. 23, 11 am – 1 pm: 
Car-Free MSP on Nicollet Mall

Already back downtown, working a hybrid schedule, or planning return to the office soon? What's the best ways to get there? Join Move Minneapolis and our transportation partners for Car-Free MSP 2021 on Nicollet Mall and 8th Street - a full block devoted to easy, affordable, climate-friendly commuting options. Learn about the low-fare transit promotion, easy vanpooling and car-sharing, Nice Ride for All’s affordability program, HOURCAR’s downtown hubs, added express bus service, FlexPass options at ABC Ramps, and new raised bike lanes crossing the heart of downtown. Did I mention cool swag?

Nice Ride & Lyft host an e-bike and scooter rodeo. Test ride a scooter or e-bike for FREE on a course set up on Nicollet Mall. Ride your bike down for a FREE safety check and adjustments by the Hub Bike Coop and Grease Rag mechanics. Try carpooling - ABC Ramps are offering a limited number of FREE carpool parking vouchers.

Car-Free MSP 2021 demonstrates that the “return to downtown” is not the status quo of drive-alone cars, traffic congestion, and more air pollution. Make a fresh start, come learn about your options. 
Rev up your sustainable commuter programs with assistance from Move Minneapolis

  • Transportation Benefits Consultation – Set goals and develop a commuter benefits and options plan that meets the needs of your organization and its employees.

  • On-Site Events – Host presentations, fairs, or tabling at your workplace featuring the commute options and resources available to your employees.

  • Identify Savings For Your Employees – Reduce employee commuting costs by motivating them to switch from driving alone to using carpool, vanpool, telework, transit or biking alternatives.

  • Relocation Assistance – Receive customized assistance when your organization moves downtown.

  • Remote Work (Telework) Support – Start, expand or improve your remote work program.

  • Pre-Tax Transportation Benefits – Set-up pre-tax payroll deduction for transportation fringe benefits and save on employer payroll taxes. Benefits options include Metropass transit passes that offer pre-tax savings.

  • Employee Commute Surveys – Conduct a brief online survey customized to your workforce that provides a snapshot of how employees currently commute to work, and a post-consulting follow-up survey to measure mode change results.

  • Guaranteed Ride Home – Learn about this sustainable commuting safety net: a federally-funded program that reimburses registered employees’ rides home four times per year or up to $100.

  • Recognition – Enjoy positive public exposure spotlighting your organization’s commuter benefits and programming, office amenities, or participation in Car-Free MSP

  • Employer Education Series – Attend webinars and live workshops featuring subject matter experts who offer guidance on commuting options, policies, and best practices.

Download a menu of Move Minneapolis services available for employers for improving transportation benefits and the commutes of their workforce.
FlexPass for Better Commuting Options
There is a new commuting program offered at ABC Ramps. Called FlexPass, it’s offered as part of a University of Minnesota research study to test more flexible commuting options, including telecommuting and transit. 
 
With FlexPass, you can get guaranteed parking for less and easily combine unlimited transit if you’d like. There are two FlexPass contracts offered during the research study:

  • FlexPark for $90 per month Get guaranteed parking 14 days per month with in-and-out privileges on those days.
  • FlexPlus for $125 per month. Get the same benefits as the FlexPark contract plus unlimited transit. Take the bus or light rail as often as you want, weekdays and weekends, and get discounted fares on Northstar.
 
Plus, you can receive an Amazon e-gift card (up to $100) for completing trip and activity data collection during the study.
 
The research study is open to anyone interested in a monthly contract at ABC Ramps in downtown Minneapolis, including existing contract holders at ABC Ramps. Those with existing parking contracts at municipal parking ramps are not eligible to participate.
 
As a study participant, you’ll be asked to complete an enrollment survey, log your activity details for two weeks, and complete an exit survey. The study will end December 31, 2021. FlexPass contracts will be active through December 2021. More information about the time commitment is included on the Enrollment Web Page.
 
Read more about FlexPass and enroll at flexpass.umn.edu.

Move Minneapolis is a 501c4 nonprofit that promotes sustainable transportation.

Support is provided by a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant in partnership with the United States Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, the City of Minneapolis, MnDOT, Hennepin County, and the downtown community.