Stay Cool and Save Time: 7 Summer Commuter Hacks
Summer in Hampton Roads hits different. Your sunglasses melt the second you step outside, your car becomes a mobile sauna, and by the time you reach work, you're wondering if showing up in a swimsuit is socially acceptable (spoiler: it's not, but we get it).
If the heat, the traffic and the eternal wait at that one intersection in Chesapeake (#iykyk) are draining your will to live, good news - there are commuter options available. Like real, tangible, make-your-life-better options. Let’s hack the heck out of your summer commute with goCommute.
1. Don’t Carpool with the Sun
If you're driving solo at 5:30 p.m. with no shade in sight and a black leather interior, you're just slow cooking yourself. Shift your schedule. Try flexing your hours or working hybrid if possible. Less time in peak traffic = less time in the human microwave.
(Bonus: fewer cars on the road helps reduce congestion. Look at you, out here being part of the solution.)
2. Bike Like a Local Celebrity
If your job is less than five miles away and your knees still work, consider biking. Do it early, though. Like, “There are still raccoons outside!” early. You’ll beat the heat, beat the traffic, and feel like the mysterious protagonist of a coming-of-age movie.
P.S: With goCommute, you can track these rides and earn rewards. Yes, really.
3. Public Transit, But Make It Smart
This is your sign to actually check the bus or light rail schedule. It’s not the same as it was in college. It's cleaner, more reliable and you don’t have to pay attention to traffic, which honestly? Elite.
You can use goCommute to log your trips and earn rewards for it. Did we mention rewards?
4. Rewards? Yes, Rewards.
If you’ve ever walked, biked, rode the bus, carpooled, vanpooled, or teleworked (from your couch with a very judgmental cat nearby), you could be earning points through goCommute.
If you regularly use a smarter commute and then find yourself stuck without a ride, the free ConnectingVA Ride Home Rewards program has your back. It’s through our partnership with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) No one should be stranded in 92-degree heat wearing business casual.
5. Carpool Like It’s Hot
If you’ve never tried carpooling, now’s the time. Use goCommute to match with folks who live and work near you. Split the gas, rotate drivers and give your car (and your wallet) a break. Honestly, it’s kind of fun once you get into the groove.
6. Telework = Commute Nirvana
Let’s not pretend teleworking isn’t elite. No traffic. No shoes. No coworkers microwaving fish. If your job allows it, even just once or twice a week - do it. It’s a top-tier commuter solution.
7. Make Your Playlist a Personality
Whether you’re stuck in traffic or cruising solo, build a playlist that makes you forget the sun is actively trying to roast you alive. (And no, it’s not weird to start with Beyoncé and end with The Front Bottoms. That’s just emotional range.)
TL;DR:
There’s no reason your commute should suck - especially not in the summer. Whether it’s biking, riding, walking, carpooling, or working from your couch, there are real ways to stay cool, skip the stress and even earn a few perks.
goCommute has the tools. You’ve got the vibes. Try a few of these out and make your summer commute... tolerable. Maybe even – dare we say it? - fun.