Are you tired of sitting in traffic each morning, arriving at work stressed and in a bad mood? Or perhaps you no longer want to shell out hundreds of dollars each month to pay for gas, parking, maintenance, and insurance for your car? For many DC area commuters, these driving woes can have a significant impact on one’s work and personal lives, and just haven’t had the time or resources to test out a new way to get to work.
However, if you have wanted to check out a different commute, summer is the best time to try it out! Whether it’s carpooling to a Metro station, riding a commuter bus, or using Capital Bikeshare to solve that “last mile” problem, take advantage of the quieter roads and offices over the next two months to see if the new commute works for you. You can also talk to your employer about having more flexible work hours during the summer to allow yourself more time to get to the office in the morning as well as change clothes if you biked or walked to work.
It’s not always smooth sailing when you first switch up your commute, so make sure you plan in advance! You can also request a Commute Planner from ATP, which will give you two to three commute choices for getting to work without a car. Whether you live four or forty miles away from work, your Commute Planner will provide detailed travel options based on your home and work locations and the time you typically arrive at work.
Remember, try the new commute at least three times before you decide whether you like it or not! If it really isn’t the best option for you, at least you’ve tested it out – having a backup plan for your commute can come in handy in the event of an emergency! With Emergency Preparedness Month coming up in September, it’s never too early to be prepared for things such as derechos, earthquakes, and blizzards!
Contact ATP today to request a Commute Planner and let us know how you will commute differently this summer!
