COURTESY OF THE CAPE COD REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY
The Provincetown Shuttle.
HYANNIS – As a way to help reduce car traffic across Cape Cod, the Regional Transit Authority and Cape Cod Commission are once again partnering for Smart Transportation Week.
The week of events and activities promotes the use of alternative modes of transportation rather than using single-occupant cars.
Smart Transportation week is designated by the Barnstable County Commissioners during the last week of June annually.
“The highlight of the program really is to give people options to their single-use automobiles whether it is the bus, riding a bike or taking the CapeFLYER,” said Glenn Cannon, the technical services director for the Cape Cod Commission.
Smart Transportation Week kicks off Monday with Ferry Day, which emphasizes the role that water transportation plays in linking the Cape to Boston and the Islands. The Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises are services which operate between the Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Barnstable Municipal Airport will be the focus on Aviation Day Tuesday to highlight the role the facility plays as a regional transportation hub.
The commission, CCRTA, MassRides and MassBike are sponsoring a Commuter Rally from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Barnstable County Complex in Barnstable Village. Information and giveaways will be available, including bicycle safety equipment like lights and reflectors.
The rally will also include a free “10-minute Beach Viewer” CCRTA bus ride from the parking lot to Millway Beach and back.
Bus Transportation Day is Thursday to focus on the CCRTA, Peter Pan Bus Company and Plymouth & Brockton bus lines.
Residents and visitors who tweet a photo of their smart commute using the hashtag #capecodsmart will have a chance to win a free 31-day CCRTA fixed route pass.
Smart Transportation Week concludes Friday with CapeFLYER Day to promote the weekend train service which connects Cape Cod and Boston.
A raffle for two CapeFLYER round-trip tickets will be held. To find out how to win, visit the CapeFLYER Facebook and Twitter pages.
“It’s a pretty comprehensive week and reinforces the importance of our region paying attention to transportation,” said Tom Cahir, the administrator of the CCTRA.
Cahir said the different modes of transportation are collaborating regularly.
“When a Steamship vessel comes in a bus isn’t taking off five minutes beforehand,” Cahir said. “We’re doing a lot of things in collaboration that make the system work efficiently.”
Car traffic volume on Cape Cod during the summer continues to increase and Cahir said there is no building your way out of it.
“The idea is to really enhance public transportation and encourage people to know it’s available and you can get where you need to go efficiently and safely,” he said.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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