Don't be fooled into thinking it's election time again when brightly colored signs and posters begin showing up around Ballard this spring and summer. It's actually King County Metro's campaign to encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation.

"The idea is to create a buzz around doing something different," said Carol Cooper, the project's coordinator for Metro.

The grant-funded program In Motion has been promoted in four King County neighborhoods since 2004. Ballard was chosen as the fifth community to get the program because of its existing transportation infrastructure, like bus service and sidewalks.

"It's important that we use what resources we have today," said Cooper. "We aren't out there building anything, so we need to be in places where the resources are already in place and in a community where it's realistic to ask someone to walk to the store instead of drive."

In Motion programs in Crossroads, Madison Miller, Columbia City and Lake Forest Park typically yielded results of about a 28 percent reduction in driving and an increase in walking and biking, said Cooper.

"There is this whole continuum of attitudes," she said. "Some people just need to be nudged over to change their habits, but some people just have an extreme 'I'll never get out of my car' attitude. This program really helps to move people along that continuum."

The campaign will offer Metro rewards and incentives to those who make a pledge to switch to healthier travel choices at least twice a week, such as the bus, carpooling, bicycling, walking and skateboarding.

Every car trip that's reduced benefits a person's health, air quality and often reduces stress and saves time, said Cooper at a community meeting at the Ballard Library last week.

For these kinds of programs to be successful they really need to be nested into the community and fit with the neighborhood's character, said Susie Tull, a consultant hired by Metro.

Whether it's 10 blocks or 10 miles, most people chose to take that trip by car.Many at the meeting said people drive because it's easy. There's no hassle involved like catching a bus or putting on a bike helmet and pads. Cars come with the convenience of trunks to transport groceries and a radio tuned to favorite stations.

So what would motivate someone to leave the car behind? Most everyone agreed that saving money in gas and parking costs, environmental concerns and fitness and health were the top motivators for alternative transportation.

Personal health and fitness often comes up as a big motivator to change, rather than a far-reaching hook like the environment or global warming, said Cooper.

"It tells us we need to talk to people about what's in it for them," she said. "People want a personal benefit."

Increasing parking limitations and costs was another incentive to use other modes to get around, said many at the meeting.

Brent Siewert, manager of the Majestic Bay movie theater, said parking is always a hassle for his customers. And it's getting worse, he said.

Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil, said that all of his employees drive to work individually. He hopes the program will encourage them to carpool or use the bus.

Because the program relies on grant funds, the project area is limited. There is only enough money to get mailings and posters out to about 5,000 homes, said Tull.

"The mailings are limited, but the message and the participation doesn't have to be," said Tull."It's about people communicating and passing the message along."

Since the campaigns are usually only about 12 weeks long, strong community partnerships are necessary for the project to be successful after the campaign has left Ballard, said Cooper.

"It would be great if community organizations and local businesses kept the message strong after we take down the posters," said Cooper. "In the past community participation does dwindle, but usually the people that participate stay changed."

Poll posters with slogans like "Ride your bike, Mike" and "The bus is swell, Michelle" will start appearing on lawns and windows by May, said Cooper. The campaign also plans to make a presence at community events like the Seafood Fest.

The coordinators will start looking for a Ballard organization to manage the project at a local level for a small stipend.

"Some people change and others just become more aware that they have other choices. Anyway you can broaden or open that little door and expand the thought process to look at the bigger picture."

For additional information visit www.metrokc.gov/inmotion.