As record-breaking temperatures have hit us this summer, here are some tips on how to beat the heat while remaining car-free yourself or for commuters at your company.
When it comes to extreme heat, safety and comfort should always be top of mind. Wearing light and breathable fabrics, staying in shade whenever possible, and drinking and carrying water when outdoors, are tried and true classics for a reason.
Arlington County has many free and public areas and buildings that can offer you some respite from scorching temperatures. While planning your trips, be on the lookout for public libraries, malls, shops, and community centers that you can take a quick break in. Enjoy the air conditioning and take a seat for a few minutes before continuing to your destination.
Check out Arlington’s web page for more heat safety tips and links to cool spots around the County that you can incorporate into your next walk or bike ride.
Employers can help their employees stay cool during the week by implementing policies and supporting programs that offer schedule flexibility when the temperatures climb.
Providing employees telework days or off-peak hour schedules can allow them to avoid travelling during the hottest periods of the day. The ability to choose the best time to travel, while maintaining core active hours, keeps them as cool as possible while commuting as well as slotting smoothly into the cadence of their day.
A hybrid schedule that combines in-office and remote work allows them flexibility to work where they’re comfortable. When appropriate, employees need not even leave their home to complete tasks, join meetings online and perform administrative duties when they’re able to work from home. A telework day keeps the workflow while cutting out the trek through the heat.
Arlington Transportation Partners has a handy guide that can give you some ideas on what kind of flexible schedule could work for your organization and how to implement it.
Bus and rail are some of the most popular methods of commuting in this region. When the temperature nears or reaches triple digits, a bus or train ride can be as good as an oasis for the rider, offering air conditioning and a place to sit while nearing their destination. You can encourage your staff to use transit through a transit benefit at your company, which allocates pre-tax funds from their paycheck, direct subsidy from their employer, or a mix of the two to pay for an employee’s commute. ATP can help identify which type of transit benefit could work best for your organization or offer tools to help promote an existing benefit among your employees. Download our Commuter Benefits guide to learn more or reach out to us with any questions.
Carpools and vanpools are another fantastic way to cut the cost of long commutes and can help get ahead of parking crunches at your worksite. During the summer heat, the commute acts as a haven from the weather outside, with a group of co-workers able to comfortably reach the office together while keeping cool. Check out our vanpool resources for further information on how to form a vanpool at your work site.
Travelling around Arlington County this summer doesn’t always have to mean driving alone - there are plenty of ways that you can take car-free trips while mitigating the effects of the heat. And when it comes to your employees’ commutes, reach out to ATP for information and insights on how to implement hybrid policies, transit benefits, or support carpool and vanpool formation.
Photo Credit: Sam Kittner/Kittner.com for Arlington Transportation Partners