Commute Smarter This Summer: Healthier, Cheaper, and Cooler Options
Your car is not a sauna. Let’s fix that.
Hey, so traffic in Hampton Roads is already its own beast - the tunnels, the bridges, the random 3p.m. slowdowns for no reason. Add in the summer heat, and it’s basically a full-contact sport. You already know what it’s like to roll up to work looking like a human puddle with rage in your heart because someone still doesn’t understand how a zipper merge works (cue the side-eye).
Here’s the good news: your summer commute doesn’t have to feel like a punishment.
The even better news: goCommute exists, and we’re here to make your Hampton Roads commute less “sweaty menty b” and more “I feel like I’ve got it together, actually.” We’re not your boss, your HOA, or the Department of Making You Feel Bad About Driving. We’re just a cool little crew that wants to help you save some money, get out of traffic, and feel slightly less like you're living in a traffic-themed reality show called Gridlock Island: Tidewater Edition.
So, let’s get into it.
The ways you could be getting around (but maybe forgot exist)
First off, if you’re still commuting like it’s 2009 (solo drive, same route, same rage), let’s freshen it up. There are commuter solutions that actually do something for you.
Carpooling. You + someone else = half the gas money and double the conversation. You might even find your new work bestie or a shared vendetta against the HRBT.
Transit. No, really. Bus, ferry, light rail - they’re not just for students and tourists. You could be catching up on podcasts (might we suggest Going Places?) instead of white knuckling the steering wheel while some guy cuts you off in a lifted truck.
Vanpooling. It's like carpooling, but with more seats and less awkwardness. This is a power move if your commute is long. You’ll rotate drivers, chill in AC and roll up to work like a coordinated, fuel-efficient squad.
Biking/Walking. If you live close enough and aren’t afraid of a little movement (or sunscreen), this is a free, healthy, and kind of vibe-y option. Especially in the early morning when the streets are empty and the humidity hasn’t clocked in yet.
And yes, telework counts too. If your boss is cool with it, work from home a few days. Wear soft pants. Avoid traffic. Avoid humans. We love that for you.
So… what’s in it for me?
Aside from not crying in your car at 4:45p.m.?
Rewards. Real ones.
If you log your smart commute trips in goCommute, you can earn points toward gift cards and other perks. We literally reward you for not driving solo. Not metaphorically. Not with vague vibes. With actual stuff.
And let’s say you’re committed to a greener commute, but then life pulls a fast one - your kid’s school calls, your boss needs you to stay late or Mercury goes into retrograde and your carpool buddy disappears. That’s where the ConnectingVA Ride Home Rewards program comes in. Through our partnership with DRPT, we’ve got a backup plan built in. You get a free emergency ride home so you're never stuck.
Okay, but why should I care?
Because driving alone, every day, in 95-degree heat with nothing but a half-melted iced coffee and your intrusive thoughts? Not the dream.
Even one or two days a week of changing things up makes a difference - for your wallet, your blood pressure and yes, even the air we all breathe. Fewer solo drivers = less traffic = cleaner air = a Hampton Roads that doesn’t feel like one giant tailpipe in August.
We’re not asking you to become a bike activist overnight or sell your car for a pogo stick. We’re just asking: what if you tried something different?
Commute Smarter. Or at least... less angrily.
Summer’s doing enough already. You shouldn’t be suffering on top of it.
Our easy, flexible commuter solutions don’t cost a million dollars or require a full personality change. Log your trips. Get rewards. Commute like you’re not in a constant battle with the asphalt. Just a little bit smarter. A lot cooler. Honestly? Cheaper, too. Think of it like self-care – just for your commute.