Workers Make a Smart Move at Canning Bridge

Richard Muniz, who works at industrial software developer Matrikon, gladly took hold of his SmartRider last week as part of the City of Melville’s SMARTi (Smarter Mobility Achieving Reduced Traffic Initiative).

The initiative, which features the slogan “It’s Your Move”, offers SmartRiders, free bicycles and other incentives to businesses in the precinct for staff who commit to using active modes of transport, including cycling, walking and catching public transport.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the City received a $105,000 grant from the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to run the project with additional funding from the City of Melville. “It is another one of our excellent TravelSmart initiatives and is part of our commitment to sustainability,” he said. “We encourage residents and workers to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever possible to not only reduce their impact on the environment but also make them healthier and happier.”

SMARTi Officer Ruth Behn said the project addressed the problem of traffic and parking congestion in a non-conventional way. “Often the focus is on the problem of too many cars for the road or parking spaces available and what can be done to create more space for those cars,” she said. “However, SMARTi is a behavioural change program, which focuses on identifying the way workers travel to and from work in the precinct and providing them with advice on all travel options available. We want to see what increase in active transport modes can be achieved by workers when provided with various levels of information and incentives.”

The incentives the City of Melville is offering as part of the SMARTi include:

• A free bicycle to staff who agree to cycle to work three times a week for one year
• Three months’ worth of free public transport tickets for staff who agree to travel three days per week or more using public transport
• Spot prizes for ‘active travellers’
• Lunchtime active transport information sessions.

Mr Muniz said about three quarters of the staff at Matrikon had agreed to take part in the SMARTi. “It’s a good program to help keep the environment clean,” he said. “It is not hard for me to catch a bus to work – there is a bus stop near my house – but I had just got into the habit of driving to work every day. By catching a bus to work instead, I can save some money on petrol and also have a few drinks on a Friday afternoon without having to worry about driving home.”

For more information, including on how to become involved in the Canning Bridge Precinct SMARTi, phone Ms Behn on 9364 0680 or email rbehn@melville.wa.gov.au.