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N.C. Air Awareness Program >> Charlotte Commute Options

Charlotte Area Commuter Options
Commuting by Bus: Using public transit can reduce your commuting costs and relieve the hassles of driving on congested roadways while also reducing air pollution. Mass transit is well-suited for commuters who live and work within easy walking distance of a bus route or are within convenient driving or biking distance to a designated Park & Ride site. There are several transit providers that serve areas in our non-attainment region. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Gastonia Transit (GT) Concord Kannapolis Transit System (RIDER) Salisbury Transit System (STS) For more information about the fares, routes and schedules offered by each provider please visit their homepages. Commuting by Vanpool: Vanpooling is a good option for those who live or work in areas not serviced by traditional bus routes or who work at times that are inconsistent with the bus schedule. There are several types of vanpool arrangements possible: Commuters whose trip either originates or ends in Mecklenburg County are eligible to participate in the CATS vanpool program For commuters outside of Mecklenburg County, consider starting your own vanpool. You can log on to Share the Ride NC, a ride-matching site sponsored by the NC Department of Transportation, to search of a vanpool in your area or to post openings in your own vanpool. Commuting by Carpool: Carpooling is a good option for employees who arrive and leave work at consistent times at least three days a week. It is one of the most flexible and informal of the commute options with no fixed rules or duration and complete participant autonomy. There are two types of carpool arrangements: One person can do all the driving and is reimbursed for mileage, gas and/or parking by the riders. The driver figures all his/her operating costs and divides by the number of riders to determine how much each passenger should pay on a daily, weekly or monthly payment plan. The other arrangement is for driving responsibilities to rotate between carpoolers so that cost and responsibilities are equally shared and no money is exchanged. To find a carpool match check your company's intranet discussion/bulletin boards for posters looking for carpool-mates. Alternatively, register with Share the Ride NC and be matched with other carpoolers automatically. Commuting by Bike: While commuting by bike is often overlooked as a transportation alternative, in reality it is one of the cleanest and most sustainable forms of transportation. While the idea of biking to work may seem daunting at first, with proper planning and preparation commuting by bike can be a safe and enjoyable alternative to driving. One group that can help you get started is Charlotte's own Bicycle Commuter Mentor Program. Through this program experienced Charlotte bike commuters volunteer to work with new cyclists to get them started biking to work.

Charlotte Area Commuter Options

Commuting by Bus:

Using public transit can reduce your commuting costs and relieve the hassles of driving on congested roadways while also reducing air pollution. Mass transit is well-suited for commuters who live and work within easy walking distance of a bus route or are within convenient driving or biking distance to a designated Park & Ride site. There are several transit providers that serve areas in our non-attainment region.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Gastonia Transit (GT)
Concord Kannapolis Transit System (RIDER)
Salisbury Transit System (STS)

For more information about the fares, routes and schedules offered by each provider please visit their homepages.

Commuting by Vanpool:

Vanpooling is a good option for those who live or work in areas not serviced by traditional bus routes or who work at times that are inconsistent with the bus schedule. There are several types of vanpool arrangements possible:

Commuters whose trip either originates or ends in Mecklenburg County are eligible to participate in the CATS vanpool program

For commuters outside of Mecklenburg County, consider starting your own vanpool. You can log on to Share the Ride NC, a ride-matching site sponsored by the NC Department of Transportation, to search of a vanpool in your area or to post openings in your own vanpool.

Commuting by Carpool:

Carpooling is a good option for employees who arrive and leave work at consistent times at least three days a week. It is one of the most flexible and informal of the commute options with no fixed rules or duration and complete participant autonomy.

There are two types of carpool arrangements:

One person can do all the driving and is reimbursed for mileage, gas and/or parking by the riders. The driver figures all his/her operating costs and divides by the number of riders to determine how much each passenger should pay on a daily, weekly or monthly payment plan.
The other arrangement is for driving responsibilities to rotate between carpoolers so that cost and responsibilities are equally shared and no money is exchanged.

To find a carpool match check your company's intranet discussion/bulletin boards for posters looking for carpool-mates. Alternatively, register with Share the Ride NC and be matched with other carpoolers automatically.

Commuting by Bike:

While commuting by bike is often overlooked as a transportation alternative, in reality it is one of the cleanest and most sustainable forms of transportation. While the idea of biking to work may seem daunting at first, with proper planning and preparation commuting by bike can be a safe and enjoyable alternative to driving.

One group that can help you get started is Charlotte's own Bicycle Commuter Mentor Program. Through this program experienced Charlotte bike commuters volunteer to work with new cyclists to get them started biking to work.