Concerned local/regional government agencies, transporters and others should be brought early on into discussions, planning, implementation, and follow-up. It is vital to bring to the table as wide a range of groups and interests as possible, from the city and in the surrounding region in each case, including those whose views may be negative about any of the kinds of major shift in today's transportation arrangements. Nobody likes change, especially those "imposed" on us by people who are indifferent to our problems and priorities It is natural to block these unwelcome proposals.

The key to success is a Big House/Open Doors approach. Make sure that you bring in all those who are going to be impacted, positively or possibly negatively, from the beginning. Better to have them inside the tent.

One of the richest and most exciting phases of the preparatory projects from the outset is that of taking contact with all these groups in order to discover what they are already doing to advance the sustainability agenda in your city. And what they are ready and able to do if they get the right kind of support.

Participation Checklist

Below is our generic check list of possible collaborators, partners, and interested parties:

Concerned local/regional government agencies

1. City hall(s)
2. Communications, public information specialists
3. Community development programs
4. Energy, conservation
5. Environmental services (including monitoring stations and services)
6. Fiscal and economic policies
7. Mayors (personal commitment)
8. Ombudsman
9. Other towns and municipalities in region
10. Parking policy and administrating
11. Police and traffic authorities (local and regional)
12. Public health
13. Public space management
14. Related incentive programs
15. School system
16. Social services
17. Special event management
18. Street vendors, kiosks, etc.
19. Taxes and charges
20. Transport and traffic planners
21. Urban development/master planners
22. Other concerned agencies, services?

1. Carshare operators
2. Carpool operations
3. Cycling and walking groups
4. Emergency transporters and services
5. Goods/Freight delivery
6. Message/courier services
7. Package delivery
8. Paratransit providers
9. Parking providers (public and private)
10. Public transit operators (rail and road)
11. Rental cars, vehicles
12. Rideshare and hitch-hiking services
13. School and other special buses
14. Taxis, limo and chauffeur services
15. Transport services for elderly, handicapped
16. Transport shelters
17. Other?

1. Car/free housing
2. E-meeting technologies (videoconferencing, voice conferencing, other)
3. Teleshopping (and delivery)
4. Telework, telecommuting programs
5. Travel diaries, logs
6. Trip chaining
7. Urban patterns - clustering
8. xWork (new ways of organizing distance work)

1. Anyone interested or involved in earlier CFDs or similar car free projects or demos in region
2. Board of Trade and other industry groups (including infrastructure)
3. Automobile associations and related industry groups (get them on board early)
4. Chambers of commerce, Business groupings, Downtown associations
5. City boosters
6. Clubs, churches, synagogues, mosques
7. Consultants, university/research groups working in these areas
8. Developers, real estate agencies,
9. Employers
10. Financial community, banks, insurance companies
11. Foundations, individuals and others able to provide financial support or backing
12. Fundraisers
13. Green Maps (Toronto has a fine one)
14. Hospitals and health agencies (including public health)
15. Including eventual sponsors and sources of active participation and support
16. International, national, regional environment, mobility, etc. agencies and associations
17. Local and regional media (old and new)
18. Local merchants, chambers of commerce, downtown associations
19. Media: traditional and new
20. NGOs, Public interest groups, associations
21. - Environmental, ecological, public health, clean air groups
22. - Non-motorized transport: Pedestrian, cycling, skating, running groups
23. - Associations concerned with elderly, handicapped and poor
24. Out of town commercial centers
25. Polling organizations
26. Red Cross, emergency services and public information programs
27. Schools and educational institutions
28. Specialized consultancies, working in these areas
29. Street performers, musicians
30. Transport user groups
31. Urban development, public spaces,
32. Women's groups
33. Youth, sports and recreation groups