I recently attended and presented at the Behavior, Energy and Climate Change conference in Sacramento, California.
Although the conference focus was on energy and climate change, the best part was learning about basic behavior-change strategies that can apply to anything – commutes, weight loss, even buying habits. It made me think of one of my own transformations – from a car-less Metro rider to a car-less bicyclist.
There are some basic behavior change concepts that apply to everything – people do not change their habits based on information, but rather, on information they learn from friends, family, and respected role models.
Once the motivation is there, however, individuals will only change their behavior if the barriers are removed and if there are prompts, often social, in place to encourage them to repeat the desired behavior and reframe their world view. It sounds simple, right? However, the reality is much harder, or we would all be perfect.
I was interested in bike riding when I lived in Manhattan for 10 years, but despite knowing that it was healthy, inexpensive, and fun, there were several barriers in place.
I did not know anyone who did it, so my only real reference point was the huge bike-messenger and bike-delivery population swarming around the city every day. Watching them made me nervous about bike safety, and honestly, it was not a lifestyle or look I was interested in emulating.
Moreover, in my small apartment, where on earth would I keep a bike? I didn’t want to hang it from the ceiling – that did not match my décor!
Fast forward to moving into Arlington. My parents came to visit. My dad, who used to ride his bike to work every day, helped me find a decent beginner bike, installed fenders and lights, and made sure I had the proper tire pump. So that was not only the first lowered barrier, but I was learning from someone I trusted. I still didn’t know anyone who biked for transportation, and got used to coworkers at the job I had then teasing me for biking.
But then I discovered that a local bike shop was having a “Ladies’ Night” event. That made a huge difference for me – I found a large group of women, some of whom were new to bike commuting like me, and many of whom were more experienced. Add in some fun women leading the talk, and encouraging us, and suddenly I’d found a group of role models I could emulate.
Then, when I joined the Arlington Transportation Partners team, I went from being “the person in the office who bikes to work” to “one of many people who bike to work.”
Now I’ve completed the behavior-change loop. I have reframed my world view so that biking for transportation is completely normal, I have many friends and colleagues who do it, and it is encouraged by my workplace. It only proves what the presenters at the BECC said – it takes time to change behaviors.
Wait, that’s what we say here at ATP! We know it isn’t easy to change behaviors, but we are here to help with the process. We encourage businesses and properties to offer not just bicycle amenities, but many types of benefits to help remove barriers to non-car commuting.
And once everyone in an office or building sees biking, Metro, busing, and walking as easy, socially acceptable behaviors, it becomes easier to join the crowd. So contact ATP now to find out how to remove barriers, add benefits, and begin to reframe your transit world view.
This article was originally published at the website of Arlington Transportation Partners.
Graphic by Ken Whytock