Whether you run a large company or a small business, every employer can make a difference in their local community and in the lives of their employees. The Commuter Connect team works with employers across Central Indiana to promote transportation alternatives that reduce employee stress, save money, and improve air quality. If you’re an employer who wants to encourage car-free transportation options, read these five tips from Commuter Connect:
1. Educate Your Employees
Education is the first step in creating a car-free workforce. Make sure your employees understand all their transportation options and their benefits. Luckily, the Commuter Connect team can help you! We can present our Commuting 101 Workshop to your entire workforce, free of charge. Your employees can also register with Commuter Connect and follow Commuter Connect on social media to sign up for a carpool or vanpool, get commuting tips and challenges, and more.
2. Offer Incentives
Show your car-free employees your appreciation by offering special perks! Reward employees who regularly go car-free with gift-cards, paid time off, catered lunch, or other prizes. You could also enter your car-free employees in a giveaway for a new bike!
3. Optimize Your Parking Space
According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Public Transportation, employees are less likely to use car-free transportation options if their employer offers free parking. Consider adding a small parking fee for employees who drive to work alone. You could also give priority parking to the employees involved in carpools and vanpools. Commuter Connect provides free designated “Carpool” and “Vanpool” parking spot signs to install in your company parking lot.
4. Help Your Employees with Transit Expenses
You can encourage your employees to go car-free by easing the financial burden of commuting. Establish a pre-tax commuting benefit program or consider subsidizing your employees’ IndyGo tickets or carpool costs. With less financial stress, your employees can stay healthy, satisfied, and productive at work.
5. Implement Flexible Working Hours
Employees are more likely to consider their car-free options if they have more freedom at work. If possible, give your employees the option to telecommute once or twice a week. You could also allow your employees to arrive at work late and/or leave early so they can avoid crowded public transportation.
We hope these tips can help you start promoting car-free/car-lite transportation at your company, but you don’t have to do it alone. Commuter Connect is a free service that can assist you with all five of these tips and more. We’ll collaborate with you to create a commuting program that works for you and your employees. Contact us at 317-327-RIDE today!
