Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Southeast Campus makes it easier for students to ‘Drive Less, Save More’

Photos and story by Christine Egan

This year, student leaders at the Southeast Campus ASPCC Office, Metro and the Oregon Department of Transportation have teamed up to make it easier for PCC students, staff and faculty to leave their cars at home and use other ways of getting to and from campus, like by foot, bike, transit or shared ride.

At the Bike Fair at Southeast Campus in February, ASPCC Southeast and Metro informally kicked off their new partnership and the “Drive Less Save More” campaign for PCC’s Southeast Campus. The partners hosted an information table at the event to help students, faculty and staff sign up for free Go Kits online. The kits, provided by Metro, are filled with walking, bus and bike maps, travel resources, coupons and a travel tool. More than 90 people stopped by the fair, which also hosted local bike vendors, Portland Bureau of Transportation, and non profit organizations, such as Bikes 4 Humanity.

The partners also hosted a second event – a Bike N’ Bus Workshop – on March 11 in the Great Hall (Mt. Tabor). Members from the campus community and Southeast Portland were encouraged to attend where they can pick up bike, swag and learn how to:

• Load a bike on front rack of a TriMet bus.
• Map out a bike/bus/walking trip for efficiency and safety.
• Sign up for carpooling.
• Lock a bike up to prevent theft.
• Sign up for a free Go Kit.
• Access the nearest MAX station.
• Learn about upcoming bike improvements at Southeast Campus.
• An event will be hosted with free refreshments and participants will be entered to win a U-lock, TriMet passes and other fun prizes!

In addition to this March event, Drive Less Save More outreach staff and PCC student Alex Baryschpolec will be out and about this spring and summer and hosting info tables at campus events. She will also be hosting more special events, including group-guided bike rides and walking tours – to give students, staff and faculty the opportunity to explore some of the easiest ways to get to campus and the many places to visit around Southeast Portland. For free Go Kits, people can always sign up online and select preferred maps and travel tools, and ASPCC will have it ready for pick-up in Room 152, Mt. Tabor Hall.

Working to support PCC’s Transportation Demand Management plan, Drive Less Save More: PCC Southeast aims to reduce drive alone trips, especially to campus, among students; increase knowledge and use of travel options resources and decrease parking violation incidence in surrounding neighborhoods.