Mixed-Mode Transit Systems

Mixed-mode transit systems, in which two or more modes of transportation are employed, seek to merge the benefits of various choices available to create a journey that is greater than the strength of its parts. Many mixed-mode transit systems seek to reduce reliance on the automobile and instead to encourage travelers to use a variety of other options, which may include walking, bicycling, rail, ferry, or other modes of transportation. The combination of two or more modes of travel also serves to offset the relative deficiencies of individual methods. As interest in sustainable practices continues to grow, mixed-mode transit systems will undoubtedly continue to play a role in transportation planning and policymaking decisions.

Background

Since the advent of automobile travel, many of the formerly popular travel modes have fallen into disfavor. While certain options used before the popularity of automobiles, such as the horse and carriage, have become marginalized, other modes of transportation—such as rail, bicycling, walking, and buses—are less environmentally harmful and still readily available. It becomes the mission of policy-makers and planners to devise ways to encourage the public to [Page 918]use modes of transportation that are more sustainable, even though they might not be as convenient as the door-to-door service offered by the automobile. To encourage commuters to leave their automobiles, alternative transportation options must be devised that are practical and cost-efficient.

This glass bikestation outside the Union Station rail line in Washington, D.C., is a form of bike-and-ride system meant to encourage mixed-mode transit. The building provides safe storage for more than 150 bicycles at a time so that bicycle riders may make use of trains, the metro, and other transit nearby or visit surrounding areas on foot.

Mixed-mode transit systems combine a variety of extant transportation options with one another to create a transportation option that is less damaging to the environment while also remaining convenient to the traveler. Existing travel modes, whether light rail, bus lines, roads or sidewalks, are used together to reduce the traveler's dependence on the automobile. Because many metropolitan areas are composed of multiple jurisdictions and decisions involve multiple agencies, mixed-mode transit systems require cooperation between different groups with authority to make decisions. In order to entice travelers to use the mixed-mode transit system, governments and agencies may offer such benefits as free parking, reduced fares, and other incentives to travelers using their systems.