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According to Hippocrates, “walking is man’s best medicine.” Boston is known to have one of the highest percentages of walking commuters among the country’s largest cities. The average walking speed is 3.1 miles per hour; so many people who live close to work prefer walking to other modes. Additionally, walking is associated with a lower risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Combining walking with bikeshare and/or transit is a great way to fit active transportation into your daily commute.

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Massachusetts is not just competitive in sports, but also in transportation.  In 1897, Boston launched the Green Line, beating out New York for the first the first subway system in the country! The Commonwealth has a long history of providing many transit options for its residents. Taking transit allows commuters to turn their commuting hours into personal time by catching up on their favorite shows, a good book, or emails. It also reduces the cost and stress of commuting alone by car. For a full list of transit options across the Commonwealth, visit the Regional Map.

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Want to save some money on your commute and your formal work wardrobe?  Try working from home! Telework, also known as telecommuting, allows employees to work from home and is rated as one of the most important work perks in national surveys. This formal or informal arrangement can range from working remotely on an as-needed basis, such as caring for a sick parent or child, to scheduled weekly work from home days, to permanent remote work positions. Most employers require telework employees to connect to their Virtual Private Network. Talk to your human resources department to see if any of these arrangements are available to you.

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You don’t need to sing karaoke to join a carpool, but a good singing voice doesn’t hurt! Carpooling enables commuters to share a ride in a private vehicle, potentially share driving responsibilities, and cut commuting costs in half. Visit BayStateCommute.com to join an existing carpool or create a new one.

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Wheels were invented circa 3,500 B.C. As a result, in 21^st century A.D., bicycling saves commuters thousands of dollars each year on commuting expenses, reduces time spent in traffic, and offers nearly as much flexibility as driving alone does. John F. Kennedy said, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.” We at MassRIDES happen to agree.

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#VansAreCool! A vanpool is a group of five to fifteen people with a similar origin, destination, and schedule who share the cost of the van rental, gas, parking, and insurance, typically through a licensed vanpool provider. Vanpooling can save commuters time and money, and reduces wear and tear on personal vehicles for longer commutes. In fact, the average vanpooler saves a cool $1,800 per year in commuting costs, according to a national vanpool provider. Pretax benefits are available for vanpools, and federal employees may also be eligible for vanpool subsidies. You can search for active vanpool routes on BayStateCommute.com or reach out to your area’s Outreach Coordinator.

For information on vanpools in the state, click here.

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We are not talking about time travel, but it may feel like you get back more time when you work a compressed work week. A compressed work week (CWW) allows commuters to work longer hours but fewer days. Using this method, commuters typically avoid peak travel times providing for a shorter commute. Typical CWW programs are either four 10-hour days per week schedule or 80-hours over nine days instead of ten. Check with your employer to see if you are eligible for this schedule.