New Year, New Benefit Limit
What better way to make a happy start to the new year than considering a cleaner commute that benefits your wallet? Effective January 1, 2022, DC employees can set aside up to $280/month on a pre-tax basis — that’s $10 more toward covering your commute costs by taking public transit or vanpooling! goDCgo encourages you to enroll in your employer’s pre-tax commuter benefit program, or increase your contribution, to help you save time, money, and stress in 2022 and beyond.
You have the power to make the difference! goDCgo encourages you to commute smarter, not harder. Make the choice to walk, bike, scoot, or take public transit instead of driving alone.
As teleworking continues into the new year, many remote employees are looking for space outside of their home or hotel rooms to telework occasionally or on a regular basis. Whether you need a change of scenery, to get away from distractions at home, or are visiting the area and need a place to work, the District has many free teleworking spaces that residents, commuters, and visitors can use.
According to data from trivago, 43% of travelers are booking hotel stays for trips that occur during the workweek. That means a lot of people travel for business purposes that includes corporate, group, government, and other commercial categories. Prior to the pandemic, business travel was the hotel industry's largest source of revenue, accounting for about 70% of all global revenue for high-end hotel chains.
Is your property set up for the business savvy visitor? Though the industry is making a slow return, you can prepare by getting ahead of the curve and updating your hotel amenities to accommodate corporate travelers who care about work-life balance, even when traveling. Review our tips below to see what you can do to help your guests travel smarter, not harder.
Season's greetings bicyclists! Now that it’s officially fall, we know the change in weather can present some challenges, but we want to keep you on two wheels year round. With a little planning and a positive attitude, the cool fall season presents an ideal time to take bike rides. In fact, there are several benefits to riding a bike during the fall and winter seasons:
As an initiative of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), goDCgo's top priority is to encourage the use of sustainable transportation among DC commuters, residents, and visitors by providing complimentary resources and consulting services that help raise awareness and educate the public about the many ways to get around the city besides driving alone. Our goal serves to decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create a better quality of life for everyone in the DC area.
Thank you and congratulations to all the DC employers and commuters who participated in the goDCgo Commuter Challenge! Participating organizations included GoRove Slade, Brookfield Properties, American College of Cardiology, Ballard Spahr LLP, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), So Others Might Eat (SOME), and Washington Gas. This year, commuters that were unaffiliated with a participating employer were also allowed to sign up. We hope everyone enjoyed the competition and was inspired to turn this challenge into a lifestyle.
goDCgo encourages you to get outside and walk for wellness. October, also known as "Walktober," is ideal for walking outdoors because the temperatures are cool and the fall foliage reaches its peak, so you can experience the beautiful changing leaves. In addition to the fall feels, walking for at least 30 minutes a day is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health.
Planning a trip to visit the District? Get the true DC experience by learning about the available transportation options to navigate the city with ease. Our Program Director, Danelle Carey, planned a weeklong stay in the District with a goal to have a car-free experience. During her stay, she was able to get to meetings, events, and visit iconic sites using bikeshare, scooters, and public transit. However, she discovered some details that can help visitors like you avoid the hassles and inconveniences that she experienced. To help you happily explore DC, we've outlined some travel tips below.
The District of Columbia has officially re-opened and many organizations and businesses are planning their transition back to the physical worksite. As more employees return to their regular commute, there are many ways that you can help increase their confidence in using public transit again.
While employees are planning their trips to work, they may have questions about reinstating their pre-tax benefits or subsidies for transit or vanpools. Additionally, over the past year, we've received some questions related to DC Commuter Benefits Law compliance that we've addressed below in order to help you meet those requirements.
Now that students have recently returned to school, we want to make sure you know about all the ways they can get there -- for FREE! The Kids Ride Free (KRF) transit subsidy program allows students to ride the Metrobus, Metrorail, and DC Circulator to school and school-related events and activities within the District at NO COST. Have questions? goDCgo has the answers! Review the frequently asked questions (FAQs) below for more information.
Here at goDCgo, we love the freedom that Zipcar, car2go and Enterprise Carshare offer District residents who choose to live car-free. Today, some companies are looking to add to that list by putting an interesting spin on traditional carsharing with “peer to peer” or "neighborhood" programs. The idea is simple: allow individual car owners to rent out their vehicles when they're not in use to non-car owners.
Benefiting both owner and renter, “neighborhood” carsharing has taken off across the US and is causing a positive shift from personal to shared transport. Car owners are able to offset the cost of ownership and maintenance—potentially earning up to $10,000 a year depending on the type of car and number of rental hours, while renters gain access to lower rates and more conveniently located vehicles.
As an added bonus, every shared car replaces approximately 14 cars on the road, leading to less road congestion and pollution.