NCDENR - Division of Air Quality - North Carolina Air Awareness Commute Options Overview



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

Commute Options Overview
Save money, relieve stress, catch up with that book or report… all of these are great reasons to find another way to get to work and around town! And while you're saving money, you'll be saving the environment. Cars cause air pollution and global warming pollution. Air pollution from cars even comes down in rain and causes water pollution. Plus, the less gasoline we use, the less petroleum we need to extract and ship by pipeline, tanker, and truck. N.C. Air Awareness has local programs in: the Triangle, the Triad, the greater Charlotte area, the greater Hickory / Unifour area, and the Asheville area. TRANSIT / BUS Links for "major" metro areas are listed, but there are many more - if you're area isn't listed, please check the statewide links at the end of this section. Asheville Area / Western NC: Asheville Transit Henderson County Community Transit Charlotte Area: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Gastonia Transit Concord/Kannapolis Rider Salisbury Transit System Fayetteville Area: Fayettville Area System of Transit Hickory/Unifour Area: Piedmont Wagon Transit Rocky Mount Area: Tar River Transit (TRT) Triad Area: Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) High Point Hi-Tran Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) Triangle Area GoTriangle.Org: This site links to all the bus systems in the Triangle, and can even plan your route for you. also has information and links for other alternative commute options. Transit Providers Statewide: N.C. Dept. of Transportation's TransitNet American Public Transportation Association CARPOOL/VANPOOL Find a Rideshare Partner: Share The Ride NC: Find carpool or vanpool partners anywhere in NC. Also links to some area transit systems. CarpoolWorld.com: This bulletin-board format links riders all over the world and here in NC. Pretty cool. Erideshare.com: Just type in your zip code to find rideshare matches. You can also do a websearch based on your town (for example, "carpool Raleigh") to find local rideshare bulletin boards. Find a Vanpool: Vanpools generally serve people who have to make longer commutes. Most vanpools are run by area transit systems. Typically, one passenger also drives the van and in return pays a discounted monthly fee. The transit system provides the van, gas, and maintenance. If you have a long commute, a vanpool can be a major money and stress saver. Check with your area transit provider (see transit links above) to find out about vanpool availability, existing vanpools, and how to set up a vanpool. BIKE/WALK N.C. Dept. of Transportation's Bicycle and Pedestrian Division: This site has bike maps for areas across the state and lots of great info about bicycle and pedestrian safety, laws, etc. GoTriangle.Org: No matter where you live in North Carolina (or the United States), you'll find some great bicycle and pedestrian resources here. TELEWORK Many companies have realized that employees can be more productive if allowed to work from home one or two days a week, or even full-time. Check with your human resources representative to see if your employer has a telecommute policy, and visit www.gotriangle.org to for more information, including an assessment of whether teleworking is right for you. Also see the Air Awareness teleworking/telecommuting page. EMERGENCY RIDE HOME Some of the larger transit systems offer emergency ride home / guaranteed ride home services. If you take an alternative commute mode to work, and must leave work unexpectedly, the service provides a taxi (or in some cases, a rental car), subject to a maximum number of times per month or per year. The specifics vary between providers, so be sure to check in advance - before you need it! CATS (Charlotte) Guaranteed Ride Home TTA (Triangle) Emergency Ride Home: available to registered commuters who live or work in Durham, Orange, or Wake Counties, and use any alternative commute mode on the day of the emergency.

Commute Options Overview

Save money, relieve stress, catch up with that book or report… all of these are great reasons to find another way to get to work and around town!

And while you're saving money, you'll be saving the environment. Cars cause air pollution and global warming pollution. Air pollution from cars even comes down in rain and causes water pollution. Plus, the less gasoline we use, the less petroleum we need to extract and ship by pipeline, tanker, and truck.

N.C. Air Awareness has local programs in: the Triangle, the Triad, the greater Charlotte area, the greater Hickory / Unifour area, and the Asheville area.

TRANSIT / BUS
Links for "major" metro areas are listed, but there are many more - if you're area isn't listed, please check the statewide links at the end of this section.
Asheville Area / Western NC:

Asheville Transit

Henderson County Community Transit
Charlotte Area:

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)

Gastonia Transit

Concord/Kannapolis Rider

Salisbury Transit System
Fayetteville Area:

Fayettville Area System of Transit
Hickory/Unifour Area:

Piedmont Wagon Transit
Rocky Mount Area:

Tar River Transit (TRT)
Triad Area:

Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART)

High Point Hi-Tran

Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA)

Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA)
Triangle Area

GoTriangle.Org: This site links to all the bus systems in the Triangle, and can even plan your route for you. also has information and links for other alternative commute options.
Transit Providers Statewide:

N.C. Dept. of Transportation's TransitNet

American Public Transportation Association

CARPOOL/VANPOOL
Find a Rideshare Partner:
Share The Ride NC: Find carpool or vanpool partners anywhere in NC. Also links to some area transit systems.
CarpoolWorld.com: This bulletin-board format links riders all over the world and here in NC. Pretty cool.
Erideshare.com: Just type in your zip code to find rideshare matches.
You can also do a websearch based on your town (for example, "carpool Raleigh") to find local rideshare bulletin boards.
Find a Vanpool:
Vanpools generally serve people who have to make longer commutes. Most vanpools are run by area transit systems. Typically, one passenger also drives the van and in return pays a discounted monthly fee. The transit system provides the van, gas, and maintenance. If you have a long commute, a vanpool can be a major money and stress saver. Check with your area transit provider (see transit links above) to find out about vanpool availability, existing vanpools, and how to set up a vanpool.

BIKE/WALK
N.C. Dept. of Transportation's Bicycle and Pedestrian Division: This site has bike maps for areas across the state and lots of great info about bicycle and pedestrian safety, laws, etc. GoTriangle.Org: No matter where you live in North Carolina (or the United States), you'll find some great bicycle and pedestrian resources here.

TELEWORK Many companies have realized that employees can be more productive if allowed to work from home one or two days a week, or even full-time. Check with your human resources representative to see if your employer has a telecommute policy, and visit www.gotriangle.org to for more information, including an assessment of whether teleworking is right for you. Also see the Air Awareness teleworking/telecommuting page.

EMERGENCY RIDE HOME Some of the larger transit systems offer emergency ride home / guaranteed ride home services. If you take an alternative commute mode to work, and must leave work unexpectedly, the service provides a taxi (or in some cases, a rental car), subject to a maximum number of times per month or per year. The specifics vary between providers, so be sure to check in advance - before you need it!

CATS (Charlotte) Guaranteed Ride Home

TTA (Triangle) Emergency Ride Home: available to registered commuters who live or work in Durham, Orange, or Wake Counties, and use any alternative commute mode on the day of the emergency.