Ways to Reduce Your Driving

There are LOTS of ways to reduce your driving — whether to work or for errands and family trips...

Hot Tip: Take a look at the "Bus, Bike, Walk: Explore South Lake Union" map and see how easy it is to get around South Lake Union without your car.   

Hot Tip: Check out the Local Motion Links page for access to all sorts of trip planning information to help you reduce car trips.

Bus:

• Find out all the places you can go by bus — all day, everyday.
• Take the bus to downtown Seattle — it’s easy, and you save on parking.
• And remember, the downtown Seattle transit tunnel offers lots of connections to destinations outside Seattle.

Walk or Bike:

• See how far you can get on foot or by bike in downtown South Lake Union without your car!
• Shop at local South Lake Union merchants — it’s good for your community and good for you.
• Let Metro’s Bike Buddy program help you get started with new biking routines.
• Help create a sense of community by getting out of your car and walking around your neighborhood.

Share a Ride:

• Whether you live or work in South Lake Union, Metro can help match you up to share the ride — to regional events as well as work though Metro Rideshare.
• Set up a carpool group to school or other activities.
• Learn about cash rewards available for Vanpooling to work.

Less Driving:

• Walk to lunch with your co-workers instead of driving.
• Calculate what it’s costing you to drive — and you’ll see another reason to leave the car behind.
• Check out ACCESS Transportation — for people unable to ride a regular Metro bus.
• Take the City of Seattle’s One Less Car Challenge
• Make fewer trips by combining your errands.

Driving Less Benefits Everyone!

There are plenty of good reasons leaving your car at home is good for you — and the neighborhood!

Improving Your Health

• A sedentary lifestyle has the cardiovascular risk equal to smoking 20 cigarettes a day.
• One in five females in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease.
• Less driving makes it easier to breathe! New research shows that vehicle tire and brake lining wear produce as much air pollution as tail pipe emissions.
• A healthy diet, weight control, exercise and reduction in stress can help prevent type 2 (adult onset) diabetes.
• Most people don't realize that there has also been a rise in type 1 diabetes among children, associated with excess body weight, and it appears to be starting at earlier ages.
• For more tips on improving your health, please visit these organization’s web sites:
  
  King County Public Health
  American Heart Association
  American Lung Association
  American Diabetes Association

Building a Community

• Remember when neighbors used to visit from front porches and across back fences… You can help create a sense of community by getting out of your car and walking around your neighborhood.
• Start to reclaim your streets by reducing traffic. Traffic interrupts children playing, not to mention people talking, strolling, jogging, and cycling.
• Get inspired by your neighbors' gardens as you stroll to the store or local café.

Traffic, Traffic, Traffic

• Relatively small differences in traffic volumes can make the difference between gridlock and free-flowing travel. Studies suggest that 10 percent fewer rush hour automobile trips could eliminate the need for major highway expansion.
• It’s not just the commute! Over seventy percent of all trips are NOT to and from the workplace.

Tips on Traveling Safely

Whether you’re walking, biking or busing — be safe!

If you’re walking

• When crossing roads, remember to Look, Listen and Think.
• Where possible, cross at pedestrian crossings or at locations where you have a clear view of all traffic and where drivers can see you!
• Be Seen! Wear light color clothing, and use a reflective aid at night.
• Walking with someone is safer than walking on your own. Encourage family, friends or a neighbor to join you.

If you’re bicycling

• Always leave yourself an out. If you can swerve into a driveway or you’ve left plenty of room to brake, you’ll drastically reduce the chances of an accident.
• Be non-confrontational. Don’t let someone else’s stress rub off on you.
• Remember to signal early. If you intend to turn at an intersection, especially if you're moving into the left-turn lane, signal early. And, don’t move left until it's safe to do so.
• Don’t get doored! Whenever you’re riding by parked cars, remain alert for drivers exiting their cars.
• Always expect the worst and ride accordingly. If you can adopt this attitude at all times, you’ll be safest in traffic and elsewhere.

If you’re busing

• Get there early. Buses don’t stop once they leave a bus stop.
• Never attempt to board or exit a moving bus.
• Don't cross in front of or behind a bus at a bus stop.
• Allow passengers to exit the bus before you board.
• Stay clear of the doors.
• Keep your head, arms and objects inside bus windows.
• Hold onto the railing when exiting the bus. Bus steps and sidewalks can become slippery from rain.
• If you are standing in the bus, hang onto the handrails provided in the event the bus makes a quick stop.
• Avoid standing in the stairwells.
• As you leave the bus, watch for cars.
• When traveling between 9 PM and 5 AM, take advantage of Metro’s Night Stop option by asking the driver to let you off at any point along your bus route, even though it may not be a Metro bus stop.
• There are even more safety tips on Metro’s website.

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