Louisville, Kentucky's TARC (Transit Authority of River City) has put together a hip-hop video to promote their on-bus bike racks. The video demonstrates the simplicity of loading a bike onto a bus, and encourages the use of multi-modal transportation.

TARC spokesperson Nina Walfoort wrote the video's lyrics and TARC employees are in the limelight. The male rapper is mechanic Theo Hamilton and the "TARCettes" are TARC bus drivers. Since the mass transit agency doesn't have the budget to pay for television ad spots, the video currently is only viewable online.

According to Jonathan Villines, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for Louisville, when the bike racks were initially installed on the city's buses in 2002, 47.000 people used them. In 2007, over 107,000 people used the racks, an increase Villines says is "an incredible number for a city this size." With promotions similar to this video, the numbers are bound to continue climbing.

It will take a multi-pronged approach to most effectively decrease car usage. Bike-sharing, car-sharing, improved mass transit systems, the new-fangled bike racks BART is installing in their Bay Area, CA stations, and political actions like those underway in Bogotá, London, and Los Angeles will all play a role.

There's no one magical solution - efforts like this initiative by TARC improve the practicalilty of both cycling and riding the bus in Louisville.

Thanks to Debra Richards for the info.

Comments (2)

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J Newberg said:

Louisville has really shown a commitment to sustainability over the past decade. If only the light rail plan could get off the ground...

March 03, 2008

Jamez Smith said:

Really well done. TARC should receive an award for this.

March 26, 2008 | url

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