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 maps specially created for these In Motion neighborhoods: South Lake Union, Rainier Beach, Ballard, Downtown Bellevue, Columbia City, Crossroads, Lake Forest Park, and Madison-Miller and see how easy it is to get around 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.
- Help your kids learn to take Metro to school.
- Shop at local merchants — it’s good for your community and good for you.
Walk or Bike:
- See how far you can get on foot or by bike in your neighborhood without your car!
- Shop at local 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.
- Organize a walking group to get kids to school without driving.
- Help create a sense of community by getting out of your car and walking around your neighborhood.
Share a Ride:
- Metro can help match you up to share rides — 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.
- Try Zipcar (formerly Flexcar) — it’s a great way to have an extra car around, but only when you need it.
- 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
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 2 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:
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.
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.
- Stay clear of the doors.
- 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.
