What will be done with the data collected from the survey? Will the information from the survey be available to the public? Who will be surveyed? Is the survey mandatory? What if I don't feel comfortable answering some of the questions? What if I don't drive a car? What if I want to speak to a real person about this survey? How will households be selected for the survey? What is meant by "travel" and "activity"? Why do you want to know about my activities? Why is the travel and activity log so important? Why do I need to record a stop for coffee or to get gas on the way to work in my log? How much detail is needed on each place I visit? What is the travel period? What if out-of-the-ordinary events happen during my assigned travel period that changes my travel? Why do you want to know about the characteristics of people in the household? Why do you need to know about my household's income? What if I traveled out of the State of Colorado during my travel period? Will any of the information collected be useful for environmental issues? What if I don't travel very much? What is the difference between the Travel Diary and the Long-Distance Log? How do I fill out the Long-Distance Travel Log? Why do you ask about long-distance travel? How do I use the GPS equipment? How do I return the GPS equipment? Where should I mail my household's diaries? If your question is not listed here please follow this link to submit your question

What will be done with the data collected from the survey?

The data collected from participating households will be statistically summarized to describe typical daily activities and the resulting travel patterns. For example, what people do, how they travel, where these trips come from and go to, what methods of transport are used on these trips, at what time of day are the trips made and so on. This information is vital in assessing our future transportation needs.

Will the information from the survey be available to the public?

Your specific activities and travel patterns will remain strictly confidential, as will any contact information (your name, phone number, email address, etc.). Key findings about travel patterns drawn from the survey will be general in nature and will relate to our region's transportation needs.

Who will be surveyed?

Households will be selected for the survey by a random selection process that considers all residential addresses in the state.

Is the survey mandatory?

The survey is not mandatory, but participation by all selected households is encouraged so that the information obtained from the survey accurately represents residents of the state.

What if I don't feel comfortable answering some of the questions?

We promise strict confidentiality of the information collected but, of course, you may decline to answer any question. Your privacy will be respected.

What if I don't drive a car?

We are interested in all types of travel - by bus, walking, biking, car... any means you use to get around!

What if I want to speak to a real person about this survey?

For information about how the survey will be used for transportation planning, contact the survey's project manager (Julie Paasche of NuStats), by phone (toll-free) at 1-800-447-8287, ext 2241 or by email jpaasche@nustats.com or Erik Sabina, Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) phone 303-480-6789, or email, esabina@DRCOG.org

How will households be selected for the survey?

Households will be selected for the survey by a random selection process that considers all residential addresses in the region.

What is meant by "travel" and "activity"?

For this survey, 'travel' means going from one place to another for any reason. "Activities" are the things you do once you've arrived. These could be going to work or to shop, visiting a neighbor or even going for a walk.

Why do you want to know about my activities?

If we can understand how you arrange your activities and how you make your travel plans, we can better plan needed transportation improvements to make it easier for you to go about your day and accomplish what you've set out to do.

Why is the travel diary log so important?

We have learned that if people do not use a diary to record their travel and activities, they forget key details about what they've done and the places they've been. It is really important that all trips, even short stops or those in the evening, and all activities, no matter how routine, are captured in the travel and activity survey.

Why do I need to record a stop for coffee or to get gas on the way to work in my diary?

A stop for coffee or to get gas on the way to work is part of what's called a "trip chain" - which is an important part of people's everyday travel. It affects where you travel, why you travel, when you travel, and how much you travel. To obtain an accurate snapshot of travel patterns, we need to know how and when residents chain their trips.

How much detail is needed on each place I visit?

Providing detailed information such as the bus stop, train station, or carpool/vanpool meeting place, street address or nearest cross streets, highways and transit services are being used.

What is the travel period?

Each household member is asked to record all travel and activities for a specific travel period. Each household member is asked to report what they do during this specific time period, even if they feel that this day is not "normal" for them (for example, they might be ill or on vacation). By having every household report all travel and activities for the travel period, we will obtain a good average across all the travel days.

What if out-of-the-ordinary events happen during my assigned travel period that changes my travel?

Even if the assigned travel period turns out to be out-of-the-ordinary for you, or anyone in your family, it is important that you still record your travel in the travel diaries for the assigned period.

Why do you want to know about the characteristics of people in the household?

We ask a number of questions about households and the people in them because we are not only trying to describe travel patterns but also understand why they occur. By collecting household characteristics along with travel patterns, we are able to better understand why people travel the way they do and this also enables us to estimate future travel patterns as the population grows and changes.

Why do you need to know about my household's income?

As explained above, some characteristics explain a lot about travel patterns. Household income has been found to be closely related to how people travel. It is also useful when trying to explain the social implications of various transportation investments. Be assured that the information about income is kept strictly confidential and will not be used for any purpose other than in connection with explaining travel patterns (view the Privacy Statement for this survey). In addition, when income details are used, it is only when combined with the incomes reported by over other participating households (about 12,000 households are expected to participate in total).

What if I traveled out of the State of Colorado during my travel period?

If you travel out of the state during your assigned travel period, you will be asked to tell us the details of all your travel and activities completed within the state and where you first went when you left the state (for example, a trip to the airport and then a flight to Washington, D.C.). If you return to the state during the travel period, you will be asked to tell us about your travel and activities once you've again returned to the state.

Will any of the information collected be useful for environmental issues?

We ask a number of questions about the vehicles in households and how those vehicles are used during the travel period. It is important to know what type of vehicles are being used so that fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from daily travel patterns can be estimated. Improving air quality by reducing vehicle emissions is an important part of regional transportation planning and decision-making.

What if I don't travel very much?

Many people feel that just because all they did during their "travel period" was visit a friend or go to the post office, this information would not be important. In fact, these people, as well as those who don't travel at all during their travel period, are just as important as someone who did. Remember, the purpose of the survey is to get a complete picture of travel patterns throughout the week. So during your travel period, we'd like to know even if you didn't travel at all.

What is the difference between the Travel Diary and the Long-Distance Log?

There is a Travel Diary for EACH PERSON in the household, and these should be filled out for ALL TRAVEL made on the assigned travel day.

The Long-Distance Travel Log asks for information about all long-distance trips made to a location 50 MILES AWAY or more from your home. You only need to fill out one Log that includes all long-distance trips made by EVERYONE in your household during the two week period printed on the label of the Travel Log.

How do I fill out the Long-Distance Travel Log?

Record each way of a long-distance trip (away from home and returning home) as a separate trip. Begin with the date of the trip in the first row, and answer questions about where you started the trip, where you went, the purpose of the trip, who made the trip, how you traveled there, how many stops you made on your way, and the types of lodging you used at your destination. There are additional questions for trips made by airplane, bus, or train. In the second row, be sure to record how you traveled back home.

Why do you ask about long-distance travel?

Long-distance travel is just as important as everyday travel. We need to know how you make long-distance trips in and out of the Front Range area so that we can better plan for future transportation improvements.

How do I use the GPS equipment?

If your household has been asked to use GPS equipment, you will receive either wearable devices for each household member over the age of 16 or an in-vehicle device for each vehicle. If you receive a wearable device, you should wear the GPS device whenever you travel out of your home starting on your assigned travel date (this is also the day that you are recording your travel in the travel log) and continuing through the GPS study period. If you have an in-vehicle device, plug the device in your cigarette lighter socket, and place the device on the dash.
Don't forget to keep the devices charged!

How do I return the GPS equipment?

As soon as your GPS study period is complete, collect all GPS devices, cables, and AC adapters provided for your household, place them in the packaging material and box in which they arrived, and place the box inside the pre-paid FedEx Pak (and seal the Pak). You may drop the FedEx package at any FedEx store/drop box, or you can call 1-800-GoFedEx for a pick-up at your home. Please DO NOT RETURN your travel diaries with your GPS equipment. You will need the diaries to report your travel by phone or by mail (using the return envelope provided).

Where should I mail my household's diaries?

If you misplaced the return envelope included in the diary packet, please mail your completed diaries to: