Tell us how you get around
Your answers will help improve transportation in the Ohio region
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Thank you for your interest in the Ohio Moves Transportation Study. The study is now closed.
About the Study
What is the Ohio Moves Transportation Study?
The Ohio Moves Transportation Study is a survey of day-to-day household travel activity and typical travel patterns for residents across the state of Ohio. This information is vital for the Ohio Department of Transportation and regional planning agencies to understand how the transportation system is impacted by growth, development and other changes in communities across the state.
The data collected in this study will be used to update the database of household travel behavior and to forecast travel needs into the future. Reliable and viable travel options contribute to Ohio’s quality of life and economic vitality, and this study will help agencies prioritize transportation improvements to support the needs of communities in the future.
Questions? Start here.
About the Study
What is this study all about?
The study is collecting information on day-to-day travel all across the state of Ohio: how we travel, where we go, what it costs, etc. The goal is to get a complete picture of travel patterns across Ohio.
What is the study region?
The study region covers the entire state of Ohio in order to improve transportation in both local and state areas. Each year the study will focus on a different part of the state. If you received an invitation to participate, then you live in this year's study area.
Why should I participate?
We need data about residents' travel to understand and plan for current and future transportation needs. This study will help prioritize future investments in Ohio. Your feedback will have a large impact because yours is one of a small number of households participating.
How was I selected to participate?
Invited households (like yours) were randomly selected from all residential addresses in your county.
Who is sponsoring this study?
This study is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
I received an invitation addressed to a former resident -- am I eligible to participate?
Yes, if you receive an invitation at your current residential address, you should participate using the password and instructions mailed to your address (even if it is addressed to a former resident, we want to hear from current residents in your neighborhood).
What if my travel during the study isn't "typical"?
That's OK--this study is about how you actually travel during the participation period. We will also separately ask how you typically travel around the region.
What if I don't travel very much?
Whether you make a lot of trips or stay home, information about your travel habits helps to plan transportation improvements. We also want to know about any trips you make by walking, biking, taking transit, or any other travel mode even if you don't drive.
Why are you asking if I own a dog or if the family pet is traveling with me?
Pets have a significant effect on travel. Many people need to schedule their trips so that they aren't away from home for a long time if they have a dog. Additionally, many people travel with their pet which means that their stops need to be shorter, as many establishments don't permit pets, but pets cannot be left in a car for a long time either.
I was also recently invited to another travel survey -- can I participate in more than one survey?
Yes. The region is currently conducting travel surveys on several different topics. This household survey is separate, and we encourage you to participate.
How is my personal privacy protected?
All of your answers are strictly confidential. Your travel data is grouped with travel data from all other participating households and will not be analyzed individually. A copy of this study's privacy policy is available here.
What will I get for participating?
Once all participants in your household have completed all parts of the study, each rMove participant will receive a $20 gift card as a thank you. If your household does not use smartphones for the study and instead participates online or over the phone, your household will receive a $10 gift card as thanks. ODOT employees and their households are welcome to participate in the study but are not eligible to receive a gift card.
What is the Ohio Long Distance study?
Please see the Ohio Long Distance Study FAQ for more information.
About Participating
How do I get started?
Click the link in your invitation email to log into the survey.
What is rMove?
rMove is a smartphone app designed for iOS (Apple) and Android that collects travel and trip information from invited participants.
How do I know if my phone is compatible with rMove?
rMove is compatible with iOS Version 14 and up, and Android version 5.1 and up. If you have an iPhone, you can check by going to "Settings", clicking "General" and then "About." If you have a phone running Android, you can check your Android version by going to "Settings" from your home screen and clicking "About phone".
What if someone in my household doesn't have an iOS(Apple) or Android smartphone?
We still want to hear from you! rMove allows for a smartphone-owning adult to provide travel information for one other adult without a compatible smartphone. Otherwise, your household can complete the survey online or by telephone.
I have a visual impairment and I cannot read either the recruitment survey or rMove. How can I participate?
Please call the toll-free survey phone number at 1-888-215-8106. You can complete both the recruitment and a one-day travel survey by speaking with an interviewer, who will enter your information into the system.
Hablo Español y no puedo leer la encuesta en inglés. ¿Cómo puedo participar?
Llame al número de teléfono gratuito de la encuesta al 1-888-215-8106. Puede completar el reclutamiento y una encuesta de viaje de un día hablando con un encuestador que ingresará su información en el sistema.
Why is the study using smartphones to collect my information?
The data collected by the rMove app on a smartphone can provide more detailed travel information than a typical travel log. For example, information such as the travel path for each trip you make is collected. These data can be used to evaluate congestion and route choice. It can also be easier for study participants to let the smartphone app record trips instead of trying to remember or write down all the details of when and where you traveled. All of the data collected on your smartphone is strictly confidential along with the information collected in the survey. A copy of this study's privacy policy is available here.
How do I participate with rMove?
Before your travel date, you will receive an email with information on how to download and activate rMove. Once installed and running properly, rMove will log your travel. A few minutes after you stop traveling, rMove will create a trip survey to ask for details such as how and why you traveled. You will also be asked a few questions at the end of each day. You can answer these surveys any time during the day, but please do not answer the questions on rMove while driving!
How long should I participate?
We ask that you download the rMove app before your household's assigned travel date. The app will automatically begin collecting trip data on your travel date (the first day of your "travel period"), and will automatically stop collecting data after seven days (the last day of your "travel period"). Once you complete all the surveys listed by rMove, you can uninstall the app from your phone.
Do my children have to participate on a smartphone?
We ask that adults in the household report when children travel with them (these trips are recorded on the adult's smartphone). We also ask that an adult report any additional trips a child makes that is not recorded by the app (such as riding the bus to school). It is very important that all travel for all your children are recorded on the project website! Many trips in households with children are made for the children's needs, and so it is critical that all their travel is accounted for.
How do I know when I've completed the study?
Once all household participants have answered all surveys for your entire travel period, you have completed the smartphone portion of the study. We will email you after your travel dates are over with final instructions and to provide your gift card.
How ODOT will use the results
How specifically will my data be used?
Your household's trips will be combined with those from other participants into a database that is expected to have around 250,000 records per year. Those trips will then be used to develop statistical models that estimate the number of trips different types of households make, how far they are willing to travel for different purposes, and how they are likely to travel to those destinations. Those modeled trips are then assigned to a transportation network, similar to how Google Maps© works.
How does ODOT use this survey to prioritize projects?
After developing statistical travel models, those models can test different projects, such as a reconfigured interchange, a road widening, or new transit service. By comparing the congestion before and after the project, ODOT can estimate how much time and money is saved by building the project, and then compare the savings to the project's cost. ODOT uses these models to rank projects for TRAC, and regional agencies use this data to prioritize projects as well.
How else does ODOT use travel models?
ODOT also uses the statistical travel models to estimate how much traffic will want to use roads in the future, so when a project is being designed, the right number of lanes, the right length of turn lanes, and the appropriate pavement depth can be planned. Models are also used to estimate pollution from vehicles to ensure that ODOT conforms to air quality regulations.
How can I find out more information about transportation planning activities in Ohio?
The information collected in the Ohio Moves Transportation Study will help support planning efforts on the statewide level as well as locally. If you wish to find out more about planning activities in the state or region, please visit the ODOT website.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the study or how to participate, please contact us by submitting a request below.
SUBMIT A SUPPORT REQUEST
Need some help?
Email us at help@ohiomoves.org
Please include your invitation access code if you know it.