Commuting By Julie Nisley June 5 2008
Green Commutes
In this day and age of rapidly rising gas prices, the daily commute can be a costly venture. But there are many ways to be green and save money while on your way to and from work.
Carpool. Carpooling is a great way to reduce carbon emissions, congestion, and wear and tear on your car, all while saving money on gas. Carpooling with just one other person will reduce your commuting expenses by 50% and take one extra car off the roads. I started carpooling two months ago with a co-worker. When our colleagues saw how successful the carpool was, another co-worker joined in. Now we’ve got three people sharing the expenses of fuel, using one car instead of three, contributing to cleaner air, and conserving finite natural resources.
Starting up a carpool can be a challenge if you don’t know people who live and work near you. If you work in a city, the city probably has an organization, sponsored by the government or chamber of commerce, dedicated to helping people with their commutes. Unfortunately, that organization’s ability to assist in matching up carpoolers depends on maintaining accurate records, which is never an easy task. The commuter assistance organization where I live was of little help in finding carpool members, so if I hadn’t made arrangements with my co-worker, I would have had to do some extra work.
Some employers offer assistance in setting up carpools, and you can always tap your network of friends and associates. Be prepared to make compromises. My co-worker usually arrived and left work half an hour before me. We agreed that I would be ready fifteen minutes earlier and he would adjust his schedule fifteen minutes later. I lose a little sleep, he loses a little spare time; but, in the end, it is worth it.
Vanpool. Vanpools are similar to carpools in that costs are shared among several commuters. However, unlike carpoolers, vanpoolers can choose not to drive. Instead of taking turns using a member’s automobile, vanpoolers use a van which may be provided by a vanpool member, an employer, or an organization that coordinates the vanpool. If you choose to ride, you may pay a monthly or weekly fee; however, the fee is less than what you would pay for gas if you drove alone. You may also be asked to commit to riding in the vanpool on a regular basis for a certain period of time in exchange for convenience and a generally relaxing ride. On the other hand, if you don’t mind driving, you can even earn extra money as a vanpool driver. As with a carpool, you’ll save money on gas and wear and tear on your car and help alleviate congestion, reduce air pollution, and conserve finite resources. Local and regional commuter assistance organizations can help you find a vanpool in your area.
Side note: what happens in an emergency? Many potential carpoolers and vanpoolers worry that an emergency could arise and, without access to their cars, they might not be able to get home immediately, or that they may have to work late and would miss their carpool or vanpool. Some commuter assistance organizations have contingency plans available for carpoolers and vanpoolers. “Guaranteed ride home” programs offer cab rides to carpoolers and vanpoolers who have emergencies and need to leave early or who need to work late. Some are free, and some have small fees for the ride.
If your city or county does not have a commuter assistance organization, don’t hesitate to contact your local government or chamber of commerce and ask them to start one. Local governments are interested in helping commuters because it alleviates congestion, which improves the quality of life for everyone in the community. Chambers of commerce are interested in helping commuters because getting people to work is good for business.
Walk or bike. If you live close enough to work, walking and biking are not only good for the environment, they are inexpensive, and they are great exercise. When the weather is nice, there is no better start and end to the day than a walk or bike ride.
Take the bus or metro. If you live and work near a metrorail, metro is a great option to keep your car off the road and money in your pocket. Also, in some cities, parking may be so scarce and so expensive that taking the metro is the only affordable way to commute. If you live and work near a bus stop, taking the bus may also be an option. Not all areas are served by transit, but if your area is, transit is a way to save money and keep your car off the road.
Don’t go to work at all—telecommute! If you spend the majority of your workday in front of a computer, you can probably do your job just as well—if not better—at home. Without a morning commute and worries about gas—and quite possibly with a little extra sleep, telecommuters arrive at work more relaxed and ready to be more productive than they would be after sitting in traffic. In addition, the quiet home environment is much more conducive to productive work than a noisy office with frequent interruptions. Selling a resistant boss is a challenge, but studies have shown that, in addition to increased productivity, telecommuters have higher morale and lower absenteeism than office workers. The internet, your best resource as a telecommuter, has much information to help you make the case to your employer.
Telecommuting is the ultimate green commute. Telecommuters don’t drive at all, producing no automobile emissions and spending no money on gas. Telecommuting is a win-win-win: a win for the employer who benefits from better work, a win for the employee who benefits from saving money and improving quality of life, and a win for the environment which benefits from cleaner air.
Whatever green commute you pursue, you can be almost certain that it will be better for the environment and for your wallet than the traditional one-driver-one-car commute. Happy non-motoring!