Plan Your Trip

Did you know that walking is one of the easiest and most enjoyable forms of exercise around? It’s also a relaxing and cost-efficient way to get to the office, the school, or the grocery store.

All you need is some comfortable shoes and clothing and off you go. You may be surprised to know that walking helps you to keep fit, reduces high blood pressure, strengthens your bones and regulates your appetite.

Next to the health benefits, walking also aids in reducing air pollution. So, as you can see, choosing to walk makes a difference to our environment, your health and your pocket book!

Many of our daily trips are well within cycling distance (0-5km). Trips taken by bike save you the cost of transit, gas, parking, have zero impact on air quality, and burn calories with every pedal forward.

If you already ride your bike then you already know the many benefits – but if you’re new to this idea make the transition easier and fun by planning ahead:

• Buy a new bike or dust off that bike you’ve had for years and get a tune up.
• Make a check-list of what you’ll need to make your bike the new vehicle of choice: a bell, reflective tape, lights for the front and the back of your bike, water bottle cage, a bike rack or basket, tire repair kit, a rear-view mirror, a bike radio, streamers, a travel mug holder…the accessory options are endless!
• Plan your trip using the City of Hamilton’s Bike Route Maps: Urban Map | Rural Map
• Do a test ride to your pre-mapped destination on the weekend.
• Take it easy. Start slow. Begin by riding one day per week to build up your cardio and confidence.
• Feeling rusty on the rules of the road? Brush up or take a refresher course
• Look out for bike clubs and events in your community including the Smart Commute Bike to work day
• If you live too far away to bike the entire distance to work or school, mix and match with transit.

Public transportation and fixed route transit services continue to be an efficient system of getting people to their destination, while contributing to both the economical and physical health of individuals.

Riding the transit provides these benefits:

• Healthier Living – Public transportation is linked to a healthier lifestyle with low mortality rate, a happier disposition, and more productivity. Transit users get more physical activity per day than driving commuters as a result of walking to and from transit stations.
• Decreases Road Congestion and Pollution – Transit helps by moving people more efficiently, than a single occupancy vehicle and helps riders avoid the stress of commuting in highly congested areas. As a result, public transit produces significantly less air pollution per passenger.
• Freedom and Mobility – The availability of public transit opens up personal mobility to everyone, giving each person the freedom to go virtually anywhere. It allows individuals that do not have accessible to vehicles the opportunity to travel freely.
• Household Expenses Reduced – Public transit can save over $10,000 per year compared to driving commuters by avoiding gas, maintenance, parking, and other expenses.
• Increased Productivity – Transit commutes are able to spend their time reading, working, studying, sleeping, or other activities that do not require their attention on watching the road. It can also reduce commute times.

HSR (Hamilton Street Railway) operates the bus and paratransit services in the City of Hamilton

Carsharing companies offer membership-based programs that provide people with access to vehicles on a self-serve, pay-per-use basis. Carsharing instead of vehicle ownership has numerous benefits including reduced vehicle kilometers travelled, and ownership, fuel and maintenance savings.

Save money. A typical carpool group can save over $100 each, even if they only carpool twice a week! Carpooling can also spark new and lasting friendships and alleviate the stress of driving alone every day. It is estimated that the average annual cost to own and operate a personal vehicle is somewhere between $8,600 and $13,000. Carpooling allows you to share that expense, leaving you with cash for other things. How much is your seat worth?

Save time. Carpooling can also reduce your total commuting time, opening access to those high-speed HOV lanes on the 403. You could whiz past traffic congestion in the designated carpool lane and park in a spot close to the entrance of your workplace that has been designated for carpools only.

Start carpooling today!  Register on the Smart Commute Tool and create your profile. Customize your profile by adding your home address and destination and decide how flexible you are in distance, driving times, and other preferences. Make sure you add yourself to your workplace network. Visit smartcommute.ca for more tips on how to find carpool partners.