Increase the use of public transit to 50%, biking and walking to 25%, and reduce car trips to just 25% of all commuter trips in Washington, DC.
Currently, 4.6% of DC residents commute by bike, 14% commute by foot, 36% take public transit, and 38% drive alone.
Make the choice to walk, bike, or take public transit instead of driving a car. YOU have the power to make a difference!
Travel for Essential Trips Only
Please be advised that you should be traveling for ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY which includes obtaining medical care, food purchases, and working at essential businesses. Healthcare providers, grocery store retailers, and other essential workers need to be able to commute while practicing safe social distancing. Before you leave the house, review these safety tips for commuting with care.
Since we're spending so much time working from home, it's important that your workspace is comfortable so that you can feel your best and maintain productivity. The efficiency of your work environment, or ergonomics, plays a major role in how you get work done. In other words, create a workspace that meets your needs.
There's a light at the end of the tunnel -- especially for DC's hospitality and tourism industry! On June 22, 2020, the District of Columbia entered Phase Two of Mayor Muriel Bowser's reopening plan as we continue to take precaution to mitigate the health crisis. As outlined in the plan, large events/gatherings have been expanded from a capacity of 10 to 50 people, and nonessential retail businesses have the option to open their doors. Nonessential non-retail businesses, like many office or corporate employees, will continue to telework for the time being.
In 2019, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) conducted a district-wide school transportation survey to evaluate the state of school commutes in Washington, DC. In the survey, they found that students and families are more likely to choose sustainable transportation options than teachers and staff. Results show that only 33% of elementary students are driven to school, while another 33% of parents walk their youngest child to school, and 59% of students have used Kids Ride Free cards. On the other hand, 78% of the District's school staff drive to work alone, while only 2.2% ride a bike to school. The survey also revealed that 43% of school staff commute from Maryland and Virginia.
Get a transit display at your school! Transit displays are a great way to show off all mobility options near your school, at a glance, and in real-time. These options include the bus, Capital Bikeshare, carshare, and the Metrorail. By providing a digital display with real-time transportation arrival data in lobbies, main offices, and teacher break rooms, your students and staff can plan their sustainable commutes back home more easily and efficiently.
Many schools are hesitant to use their limited budgets on transit display software, but thanks to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), schools can install a live transportation feed for at no cost to you! All you have to do is provide the television screen or monitor and use Ride DC's portal to set-up a live feed. School administrators will have the ability to create a custom dashboard specific to their school's location.
If you work nontraditional or late-night hours, you may find that you are left with fewer commute options to get to and from work. Since the public health crisis, public transit and other commonly used travel options have become even more limited in order to encourage people to stay home, practice social distancing, and ultimately protect the safety and well-being of essential workers.
In the best interest of public safety during the health crisis, transportation providers nationwide have taken effective, protective measures to support the "stay home" advisory and to encourage safe social distancing. This includes aggressive cleaning and disinfecting protocols, temporarily pausing or reducing services, closing stations, and more.
Please be advised that you should be traveling for ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY in Washington, DC which includes obtaining medical care that cannot be provided virtually; purchasing food and/or household goods; performing or accessing essential government functions; working at essential businesses; engaging in essential travel; or engaging in recreational activities, as defined by Mayor Muriel Bowser's Stay-At-Home Order.
Below is a breakdown of limited transportation services in the District of Columbia:
With certain states and municipalities beginning to lift stay-at-home orders, it’s important to create a Return to Work Plan to ensure you have commuter programs and policies in place that accommodate the interest of your organization and its employees. As we continue to adapt to the “new normal,” goDCgo employer services recommends putting in place a variety of commuter benefit options that help your employees feel safe and confident as they commute to and from the office, or when working remotely.
As the saying goes, "You never forget how to ride a bike," so it's a skill that you carry for a lifetime. Put those skills to good use by exploring the 150 miles of bike lanes and trails that Washington, DC has to offer! goDCgo encourages you to join the rising number of residents who already commute by bike, making DC a healthier, greener, and more sustainable city. Our prospering bike community continues to grow year over year, with an emphasis on the District's commitment to improving bike safety, infrastructure, and accessibility. In fact, we're nationally recognized as one of the top cycling cities by popular advocacy groups like People for Bikes and the League of American Bicyclists!
Now that Washington, DC has entered a phased reopening, it's important that you consider how to accommodate your residents by adapting your amenities to support those who will work remotely more frequently. While more people retreat to work from home, we expect a rise in demand for onsite building amenities, like a gym, pool, or telework space, as a reprieve from the confines of the apartment and daily routine. Residents may also place a higher value in amenities like strong shared WiFi connections, complimentary printing and video conferencing capabilities, as well as information on sustainable transportation options near the property that allow safe social distancing.
