Module 5: Alternative Transportation

Identifying Options

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Alternatives to solo driving:
Teleworking Carpooling Mass transit Vanpooling	Flextime Alternative schedules Walking Biking

Teleworking

Teleworking, also known as telecommuting, replaces travel to and from work with telecommunications (Internet) technologies. It refers to working at home or another location on a full- or part-time basis. Many employees telework only once or twice per week; on the other hand, some employees telework full-time and go to the office only on an occasional basis.

Carpooling

Carpooling can save time and money and reduce stress by allowing partners to share the driving duties. HOV lanes help carpooling commuters get to their destinations faster. On average, metro Atlantans spend more than 60 minutes a day just driving to and from work. That’s more than five hours each week—and our commutes represent only 20 percent of the total trips we drive.

Through 1-87-RIDEFIND, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) helps match drivers and riders. The service uses an online database of people who sign up voluntarily. It compares work and home addresses, work hours, and other preferences to match prospective carpool partners.

Mass transit

Many of metro Atlanta’s major locations can be reached by mass transit. Employees and tenants can be encouraged to choose this option (if possible) for traveling to meetings, lunch, and other events during the workday—even if they have driven their own vehicles to the office.

If used for part or all of the daily commute, transit can save money in vehicle operations costs, parking fees, and tolls. Daily transit riders can save a substantial amount of money. For example, a monthly MARTA Breeze Card costs only $52.50, compared to the almost $330 (according to AAA) it costs to drive alone.

Transit can be even less expensive if the employer or property manager offers passes through a discount program. Tax benefits may also be available for both employers and employees.

In addition to MARTA, many transit options exist for communities in the metro region and in other parts of the state. To see a complete listing of public transit systems in the state of Georgia, click here.

Vanpooling

A vanpool is created when a group of 7-15 people ride to and from work together. Vendors in the region provide the vehicle, insurance, and the maintenance. If you are a volunteer driver, you may get to ride free and have personal use of the van.

Riders pay fares based on how far the commute is and the number of riders. The fee is usually much less than the cost of driving alone—solo driving costs more than $15 daily on average for operating and ownership costs (according to AAA). That figure doesn’t include extras such as parking fees.

Besides saving money, vanpooling can also save time because you can travel in the HOV lane. And letting someone else drive means less stress and more time for reading, relaxing, or taking a short nap!

Most vanpools are started at an employer site by a group of interested employees who live near each other and share a similar schedule. Or the employer may start a vanpool program. The Clean Air Campaign offers a variety of financial incentives to help you earn money when vanpooling.

Those participating in a vanpool do not have to all work for the same company. The driver can make several stops, or let the passengers off in the heart of a business district.