Interactive Text Messaging Gave TransFort the Insight It Needed to Improve Bike-Friendly Public Transportation

The City of Fort Collins, Colorado is a League of American Bicyclists Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community. It has been named one of the Top 10 Best U.S. Cities for Bicycling by Bicycling Magazine. And is a certified 3-STAR Community in the Sustainability Tools for Assessing & Rating Communities System.

According to the city’s 2014 Master Bike Plan, its goal is to develop a healthy, safe community and possibly even make bicycling a mainstream transportation mode. “Bicycling plays a major role in the culture and quality of life experienced by Fort Collins residents and visitors,” the plan said.

It was important for TransFort, the city’s transit service, to accommodate the many bike riders who may also want to utilize public transportation — but they didn’t want to ignore those citizens who use public transportation and don’t ride a bike.

To help gather rider responses regarding Max, TransFort’s rapid transit system, TransFort used GovDelivery’s interactive text messaging service.

TransFort sent four text surveys in 2014, which it advertised through supporting marketing channels such as email, social media and local public relations. TransFort got 550 responses total for the polls and there were varied opinions on whether or not additional amenities were needed. One-third said they wanted more bike racks at stations, one-third were happy with the current amount, and one-third said they didn’t want additional racks.

Based on the feedback given, TransFort focused on adding more amenities at stations — like bike shelters and parking — where riders had requested additional amenities. In total, 511 stations were improved and 414 bike racks were added at various stations.

TransFort also looks to launch bike-sharing programs in the future, and through additional polls, it has also collected ideas from the public on how to adapt routes, adjust schedules and locate bus stops in the best possible locations.

TransFort continues to push the boundaries of community expectations around transit service through digital communications. Through campaigns like TransFort’s new bike initiative, TransFort (and the City of Fort Collins) has been nationally recognized with honors like the “Colorado Large Innovative Transportation Solution Award” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar (2014) and “Large Transit System of the Year Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA)” by the Colorado Department of Transportation (2013 and 2014).

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