Green Options » traffic congestion

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Van Rideshare Service Expands, Atlanta Traffic Gets Some Relief

Tom Schueneman — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:43:41 +0000

The Atlanta metro area is one of the fastest growing urban centers in the country and, according to the Forbes magazine 2008 ranking, enjoys some of the worst traffic in the U.S. 13% of Atlanta-bound commuters spend over an hour commuting to work, with the average commuter spending more than 60 hours every year hassling their way to work on ever more crowded roadways. Atlanta ranks in the top ten cities for air pollution.

Clearly Atlanta is a perfect opportunity to employ all efforts available to reduce traffic. Heather Pastrick, from Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Atlanta operation, recently explained how one important component of those efforts consists of the 110 vanpools (and growing) provided by the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Rideshare program throughout the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.

Chicago Unveils Plan to Punish Driving While Encouraging Riding

Sarah Lozanova — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:15:36 +0000

The average Chicagoan spends an hour and a half commuting to and from work each day. With the second largest public transportation system in the country, one million people ride city buses each day. Mayor Daley considered both facts when he devised a plan aimed at easing congestion, commuting times, and air pollution in the central business district. A $153 million federal grant can help make this plan a reality.

Priority Given to Buses Over Cars

The first part of the plan entails creating a 100 mile bus corridor with dedicated bus lanes during peak hours. Kiosks selling bus tickets allow passengers to quickly board buses and many routes will run express, resulting in fewer stops. Traffic lights will be programmed to turn green for buses, helping to keep them in motion. Hybrid buses will be used, reducing pollution in these heavily populated areas.

Beat Traffic: Commute by Canoe

Shirley Siluk Gregory — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:51:00 +0000

Sick of being stuck in traffic during his daily commute from Bath to Batheaston, U.K. architect trainee Ricardo Assis Rosa has found a more pleasant and eco-friendly way to get to work: by canoe.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user KMJ.

Another Argument for Public Transit

Shirley Siluk Gregory — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:09:28 +0000

Here’s another reason to take public transportation when you’re in New York City: there really is no parking … or at least not nearly enough for the number of drivers looking for a space.

The New York Times reports that a “long-awaited” city study found that, outside of those drivers lucky enough to have city-issued placards that give them special parking privileges, typical commuters face near-hopeless odds of finding a parking space in some areas. The city’s financial district, for example, offers only one-third the number of spaces needed for the non-placarded drivers passing through.