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Government Commuting Initiatives

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Looking ahead to what urban transportation will be like 10 to 20 years from now.

The heyday of the single-occupancy vehicle is in decline, and government commuting planners are looking forward to a future where people are less reliant on personal vehicles and make more efficient use of alternatives like mass transit, ride-sharing, walking and biking. So where, exactly, is commuting headed? How will it be different in a decade or two than it is right now?

Experts say that the big changes aren’t going to be in the modes of transportation people use. Subways, trams and streetcars, commuter trains and buses will still make up the lion’s share of urban mass transit, and walking and cycling will still rank among the primary alternatives. While newer concepts like vanpooling and ride-sharing seem to be in line for a spike in use, the real innovation isn’t going to come from the methods of transportation themselves; it’s going to come from the way people use them.

Everything about commuting will be integrated. Some pundits are even predicting that cities will be able to remove four out of every five cars currently on the road. But what about today? What can be done right now to help make this future a reality sooner?

Transportation patterns seen in younger demographics point the way forward for government commuting planners.

Looking at the millennial generation, it’s clear that walking, biking, public transportation and ride-sharing are viewed as far more viable transportation options than single-occupancy vehicles. When traveling by car is an absolute necessity, alternatives like ride-sharing and vanpooling are preferred approaches. Transportation industry insiders are unanimous in saying that the biggest leaps forward will come when the technology to make better use of these alternatives is put in the hands of a broader base of commuters.

Apps are going to be game-changers. Users will be able to plan trips within seconds, weighing the costs and benefits of the various alternatives available and instantly accessing detailed multimodal route information based on current weather and traffic conditions. In fact, those apps and technology platforms are<already available.

The RideAmigos team has emerged as a leading force in the move towards smarter and more efficient urban commuting and transportation. Our proprietary technologies are already being used by government agencies and businesses around the world to help get people from A to B with less stress and greater efficiency. View our demo to learn more, or contact us for further information.

Hacking the Corporate Commuting Dilemma

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Corporate commuting trends are changing. Will your organization change with them?

Once upon a time, not all that long ago, commuters didn’t think too hard about their daily journeys. Every morning, they’d get in their cars and drive the same route to work. If there happened to be a lot more traffic than usual on the road that day…well, then the drive would take a little longer. If road improvements or construction shut down a lane or two along the most direct route to work…well, they’d manage. That’s just the way things go.

Not anymore.

Times are changing, and corporate commuters are changing with them. Reliance on single-occupancy vehicles is diminishing, and the general public’s awareness of the ecological impact of their transportation decisions is at an all-time high. Given these trends, it’s no surprise that experts are detecting significant changes in the way people get to and from work.

How RideAmigos Supports New and Progressive Corporate Commuting Solutions

The 2013 American Commuter Survey found that Generation X-ers and millennials are commuting by car less and less with each passing year. People in younger demographics are also taking public transit and walking to work with greater frequency than any other age group.

In cities like San Francisco, Boston and New York, the microtransit trend is making major headway. Privately operated mini-buses and ride shares are giving corporate commuters meaningful and convenient alternatives to mass transit and single-occupancy vehicles.

Businesses have a lot to gain by encouraging employees to seek out quicker, greener ways to get to work. Improved productivity is a big and obvious bonus, but there are also hidden benefits. One biggie is the fact that companies with a strong sense of social responsibility also tend to have higher rates of employee satisfaction – and that’s something that pays off in a big way, on and on down the line.

If you’d like to be a part of the corporate commuting revolution, the RideAmigos team can provide all the tools you need. Trip planners, journey loggers, incentive and benefit trackers, analysis tools, ride-sharing platforms – they’re all here. And they’ll all help you build a happier, healthier, more creative and more engaged workforce. Contact us to learn more.