Need a Reason to Use Alternative Commutes – Reduce, Reduce, Reduce.

Need some reasons to use alternative commuting solutions to get around town? How does reducing your carbon footprint, reducing the amount of money you spend, and reducing your stress levels sound?

Here's your first reason to use alternative commutes. You can reduce your carbon footprint. If we all left our car at home one day per week and rode the bus or carpooled, the result would be a 20% reduction in commuter traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. That means less time in the car and better air to breathe!

Not only with alternative commutes reduce you carbon footprint, but reducing your driving will be like giving yourself a raise. The average Austin driver commutes 24 miles to get to work. According to AAA we spend about $0.54 a mile. Okay, so that's about $13.00 a day, $65 a week, $291 a month, and a whopping $3,369 a year. Have to take your personal car a few times during the week? Well that's understandable. What if you were to take the bus just once a week? Would that help? Yes it would! Based on these averages you'd save over $50.00 a month, and about $600 a year. Not bad. What if you used an alternative commute twice a week? That would be over $100 a month, and $1,200 a year. You see what I'm getting at here. Avoiding your commute once or twice a week by using an alternative commute is going to add up to a nice bonus over the course of a year. So go on and give yourself that raise.
A study presented at the American Heart Association's Cardiovascular Disease conference in March 2009 found that dealing with traffic makes you three times more likely to suffer a heart attack. So stress less by taking the bus, and incorporating bike riding or walking. Reducing your stress and increasing your activity is going to give your heart health a boost. Can't give up driving your personal vehicle? Improve your quality of life by flexing your hours and working four 10-hour days (do the math, that's a three day weekend), or be more productive by working in your pajamas at home and Telework.

It's simple. Driving less is good for you, and it's good for your wallet. September is Commute Solutions month so it's the perfect time to get in gear and give your vehicle a break.

Resources for alternative commuting:

Capital Metro – www.capmetro.org
Austin Car Share – www.austincarshare.org
River Cities Rideshare – www.rivercityrideshare.com