Learn which LEED strategy best promotes alternative transportation for building occupants – locate in rural areas, provide bike facilities, build near amenities, or offer preferred parking.
Table of Contents
Question
Which of the following strategies encourages a building’s users to use alternative transportation?
A. Locate building in a rural area
B. Provide bicycle storage and shower facilities
C. Locate building near restaurants and theaters
D. Provide preferred parking for business owners
Answer
B. Provide bicycle storage and shower facilities
Explanation
One of the goals of the LEED rating system is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by encouraging alternative modes of transportation that are less dependent on fossil fuels. Providing bicycle storage and shower facilities is a strategy that encourages a building’s users to use bicycles as a means of transportation, which can reduce vehicle miles traveled, fuel consumption, air pollution, traffic congestion, and parking demand. This strategy can also promote physical activity and health benefits for the users.
Of the strategies listed, providing bicycle storage and shower facilities is the most effective way to encourage a building’s occupants to use alternative transportation, specifically bicycling. By offering secure bike racks or storage areas and showers, a LEED building makes bicycle commuting much more appealing and practical for its users.
In contrast, locating the building in a rural area (A) would likely have the opposite effect, as it would make the building less accessible by alternative transportation modes. Being far from urban centers, amenities, and public transit would encourage more driving.
Having the building near restaurants and theaters (C) could reduce some vehicle trips by allowing occupants to walk to these amenities. However, this would likely only replace short car trips, not full commutes. It doesn’t actively encourage low-impact transportation in the same targeted way as providing bicycle facilities.
Finally, offering preferred parking for business owners (D) would not encourage alternative transportation at all. In fact, reserving prime parking spots as a perk for certain occupants would incentivize more driving over other modes.
Therefore, only option B, providing bicycle storage and shower facilities, represents a design strategy that would effectively promote and facilitate the use of alternative, low-impact transportation by a LEED building’s occupants. This is in alignment with LEED’s sustainable transportation goals.
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