Community Transportation Advocates

Memphis has many organizations and individuals that work hard to make sustainable alternative modes of transportation feasible in our city. Very few are able to dedicate their time and resources solely to this effort. Commute Options is committed to supporting partners in the community who have a vested interest in promoting alternate ways of commuting through resource allocation and education. We can provide additional support to implement and publicize commuting initiatives for more comprehensive programming options.

We are able to supporting our community stakeholders in several critical ways:

  • Ongoing programming and promotional opportunities to support partner organizations and alternative transportation

  • Co-hosting events and promotions at community events

  • Education and promotion of community stakeholder initiatives: regular social media posts highlighting partner programs, news, and community opportunities and a dedicated newsletter segment highlighting partner information

  • Partner event promotions such as Commute Challenges, Bike to Work Day, Mayor Harris Shelby Bike Ride, Explore Bike Share sales, and Transportation Management Authority (TMA) transportation opportunities

Our current partnerships include:

  • City of Memphis Bikeway and Pedestrian Program

    Bike/Ped Memphis is responsible for improving conditions for walking and bicycling in Memphis. Get up-to-date information on their website or Facebook.

  • Core TMA

    A Transportation Management Association (TMA) is a partnership between businesses and organizations working together to create a better network of transportation and parking solutions. In Memphis, the Core TMA provides and promotes up-to-date transportation options and solutions to help employers and employees find ways to switch up their commute.

  • Downtown Memphis Commission Groove On-Demand

    Downtown Memphis Commission’s Groove On-Demand offers fast, easy, and affordable rides around Downtown, the Medical District, South City, and New Chicago.

  • Explore Bike Share

    Explore Bike Share provides a network of electric bikes (eBikes) that are rentable on-demand from stations around the city. The process is easy! Find out more on their website or Facebook.

  • Memphis Area Ride Share

    Offered through the Shelby County Health Department, the Memphis Area Rideshare Program provides an interactive social network to make it easy for commuters to share the ride!

  • Memphis Area Transit Authority

    Providing public transportation to great communities in the Memphis area, Memphis Area Transit Authority takes great pride in connecting people to places!

  • Memphis Medical District Collaborative

    The Memphis Medical District Collaborative is a community development organization working with partners to strengthen the communities in the Memphis Medical District so that they are more livable, vibrant, and safe.

  • Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization

    The Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MMPO) strengthens and promotes the development of a balanced, efficient, and affordable regional transportation system.

  • MyCityRides

    MyCityRides helps working people regain time and save money by offering reliable scooters as a part of a fixed-cost program.

  • Tennessee Department of Transportation

    The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is the department of transportation for the State of Tennessee, with multimodal responsibilities in roadways, aviation, public transit, waterways, and railroads. TDOT has partnered with Commute Options by providing funding for various projects on an as-needed basis.

Our success stories include:

  • We partnered with Memphis Area RideShare for two bike rides; hosting conversations with MATA, Explore Bike Share, Core TMA, and Memphis Area RideShare; and strategizing with TDOT on how to implement a 2016 statewide TDM plan.

  • We shared stories of how TDM money is used in Shelby County with Representative Steve Cohen. He then went on to sign the Association of Commuter Transportation’s “MORE thru TDM” legislation in 2021. This legislation aimed to support codifying TDM definitions to make funding easier for TDM programs.

  • We visited classrooms at a middle school, rode with a middle school monthly bike club, presented at a high school class exploring transportation equity, and met with three Urban Studies classes at Rhodes College.

  • The Complete Streets Roundtable brought together TDOT staff and local partners working on transportation and mobility.

  • To support Explore Bike Share, we helped with their eScooter launch. We supported their unpacking day and eScooter distribution day both by attending and promoting it among our networks. We also recruited additional volunteers to help.

  • The Commute Options team was excited to support the newly re-issued State employee Swipe ‘n Ride transit passes. As those passes were distributed to State offices in Memphis, we reached out to administrators to offer support. We were able to meet in person with staff from the Department of Children’s Services and the Department of Corrections. When we attended a Dept. of Corrections staff meeting, we answered questions about how to use the passes and what transit rides are eligible.

If you or your organization is interested in partnering with us, please let us know! We would love to discuss ways we can support you.