CONNECTOne Day
Climate Resolve’s One Day campaign will encourage Angelenos to get out of their cars one day per week and either bike or walk or take public transportation to get where they’re going. The One Day campaign would not only reduce traffic, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, but, most importantly, would also show elected leaders that the public supports modes of transportation other than the automobile.
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Central LA
East LA
San Gabriel Valley
San Fernando Valley
South LA
Westside
South Bay
City of Los Angeles
In what stage of innovation is this project?
Pilot project or new program
What is the need you’re responding to?
Cars pollute our air and contribute to the crisis of climate change. Cars also clog our streets, maim our loved ones, and make us feel antagonistic toward our neighbors. Depending on cars for mobility is not a step in the right direction; it is a devolution. Car-less transportation must no longer be treated as “lesser than” and marginalized, and transportation infrastructure should no longer serve cars above all else.
In addition to reducing air pollution and traffic, using active and public transportation increases social cohesion and public wellbeing. Climate Resolve sees a future where we walk to the bus or train, get some exercise, breathe cleaner air, and say hello to our neighbors along the way. We’ll arrive at our jobs refreshed by the experience of traversing through public spaces that build community bonds, and we’ll be relieved of the burden and risks of car ownership. We’ll be safer, healthier, happier, and doing right by the planet.
Why is this project important to the work of your organization?
Climate Resolve has been successfully advocating for improvements to LA’s transportation system for nearly a decade. We created and lead the EnviroMetro coalition, a network of more than 70 groups dedicated to making public transit more equitable, more accessible, and more usable. EnviroMetro was successful in establishing a comprehensive sustainability policy at Metro and an equity framework, which is to guide everything that the agency does. Climate Resolve also chairs the Sustainability Council at Metro, which helps lead the agency in making investments in the transit system more sustainable and equitable.
We’re also involved in crafting a plan for a “green street” in South El Monte, where cars, bikes, buses, and pedestrians can all happily coexist on a shaded thoroughfare. Climate Resolve also conducted a comprehensive study of ridership at the Sherman Way transit station in Canoga Park, looking at barriers to access and ways to improve the rider experience.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this proposal?
Direct Impact: 20,000
Indirect Impact: 4,000,000
Please describe the broader impact of your proposal.
The One Day campaign has the potential to change the narrative around cars in Los Angeles - especially the hundreds of thousands of single-occupant vehicles crowding the freeways every day. Climate Resolve believes this effort can compliment the measures it has already taken to improve public transportation in LA, including making it more sustainable, equitable, and responsive to riders. This shift in perception will have many broader impacts: increased support for ballot measures that spur transit investment; more people riding Metro buses and trains; a decrease in traffic and air pollution; and an increase in social cohesion. We know we can reach 20,000 of our contacts alone, and with support from LA2050 we can benefit the whole city!
Please explain how you will define and measure success for your project.
Climate Resolve’s overall vision for success is having people take public transit or active transportation for one day per week. More granular measures of success for this project will be:
-The number of people reached by our communications campaign. Climate Resolve has an extensive digital contact list, and we hope to leverage the LA2050 community to increase the number of people we are able to contact. Communications measures will include a description of the campaign, the climate and social benefits of not driving a car, information about different transit options, and social media packages featuring custom gifs and memes. In addition to online communications, Climate Resolve will put up billboards and banners in high-traffic areas to encourage participation in its One Day campaign.
-A change in public perception around driving versus other transportation modes. Climate Resolve believes we can change the public narrative around Los Angeles. We envision surveying community members, both in-person and through our online platforms, about their changing perceptions of driving - especially single-occupant vehicles.
-An increase in ridership on public transportation. While an increase in ridership is a difficult goal to attain, Climate Resolve believes this campaign can truly make a difference in how Los Angeles views transportation. We will leverage our strong working relationship with Metro to obtain and examine ridership trends over the grant period.
Which of the CONNECT metrics will your submission impact?
Travel time to work
Public transit ridership
Are there any other LA2050 goal categories that your proposal will impact?
LA is the best place to PLAY
Which of LA2050’s resources will be of the most value to you?
Access to the LA2050 community
Host public events or gatherings
Communications support
Strategy assistance and implementation