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May is National Bike Month
Celebrating Bike Month 2025
National Bike Month is celebrated annually in communities from coast to coast. It is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — for work, fun or fitness — and to encourage more people to try it. Raleigh's free bike month events encourage riders, novice or experienced, to enjoy all that bicycling has to offer.
Commute Smart Raleigh is excited to celebrate cycling with the community! Head over to our Bike Month page for a full schedule of events and more information.
Raleigh E-Bike Rebate Program
Commute Smart Raleigh is excited to announce our E-Bike Rebate Program! Visit our website for information about the program, how to sign up, and more.
For questions, contact rachel.anderson@raleighnc.gov or mason.chamblee@raleighnc.gov.
About Commute Smart
Commute Smart Raleigh offers easy solutions to alleviate traffic congestion and employee stress by moving more people in fewer vehicles. Commute Smart Consultants provide advice and assistance on how to increase the use of various transportation options.
Implementing a Commute Smart Program can:
- Increase employee satisfaction
- Reduce the demand for parking
- Reduce tardiness and absenteeism
- Reduce employee stress
- Enhance recruitment and retention
- Enhance your public image
Request a Commute Smart Plan
Request a Commute Smart Plan from our staff to receive a personalized commuting plan. Fill out the form as accurately as possible and our dedicated Commute Smart staff will respond within two weeks with a plan that fits your needs.
Not sure if it’s worth it to switch to a Smart Commute? Click here to see how much money you would save by switching to a Smart Commute!
2025 Commute Smart Award
This award, presented by Commute Smart Raleigh, recognizes any person or organization that has taken steps to amplify and/or demonstrate sustainable commuting methods, including but not limited to public transit, bicycling, and carpooling.
APPLY NOW
The goal of the award is to encourage public recognition of those who choose to eliminate single-occupant vehicle travel. It is a part of the City’s Environmental Awards series. The winner will be announced at the City of Raleigh’s Earth Day Celebration in April 2025.
Eligibility Requirements:
Individual nominees/organizations must be based in Raleigh and have a portion of their commuting efforts either originate or end in Raleigh.
Must be 16+ years old to enter.
Applicants must complete this online entry form and submit a related photograph (person/project/organization). Self-nominations are encouraged.
Walk & Bike
Walking and bicycling have many benefits for physical and mental health. They also help reduce traffic and wear and tear on the roadways.
Walk
Walking is an option for employees who live within a mile or two of their workplace. It is important to promote safety and education for those who choose to walk. If possible, provide your employees with showers and lockers.
Follow these safety tips for a walking commute.
Bike
Bicycling is an easy option for employees who live within five miles of their workplace. All buses in the Triangle have bicycle racks on the front so a bike commute can be combined with transit. Visit the guide to putting Bikes on Buses.
In addition to having lockers and showers, it is important to have bicycle infrastructure and safe routes between your home and work, as well as secure bike parking or storage areas at your workplace.
Plan your bike commute using the City of Raleigh's Bike Map. Try out your bike commute on a day you don't work in order to learn your route.
Bikeshare and Scooters
Cardinal Bikeshare is Raleigh’s docked bikeshare. The bikeshare program offers e-assist and regular bicycles at 30 plus locations around Raleigh. You do not have to start and end your trip at the same station. To see locations and get more information visit CardinalBikeshare.com. Raleigh also has scooters to share for a fee. Both bikeshare and scooter share are quick and convenient to unlock and use.
Bus & Train
Bus
Riding the bus is the easiest way to get to work when:
- A bus route is within three blocks (1/4 mile) of work and near home;
- There is easy access to a Park & Ride lot;
- Bus schedules meet their work schedules;
- There's safe access between transit stops and your site.
Google Maps now has real-time bus tracking with GoRaleigh! Use a desktop or your phone to plan a trip and see when your bus will arrive, if it is running behind, and more.
For information on how to ride the bus, check out GoRaleigh's Ride Guide. You can also find information about bus fares information on raleighnc.gov.
GoPass
The GoPass has two options:
- GoRaleigh only
- Regional (covers GoRaleigh, GoDurham, GoCary, and GoTriangle)
The GoPass requires a contractual agreement with an organization that allows employees/members/tenants of participating organizations to ride buses for free. The participating organization pays a discounted fare for those who use their organizational GoPass. Contact your Commute Smart Consultant if you are interested in getting a GoPass for your organization.
Park & Ride
There are many Park & Ride locations in and around the Triangle. Some lots are shared with the businesses that own or lease the property. There are both Regional or GoRaleigh Park & Ride locations.
Train
Raleigh Union Station is located downtown. There is Amtrak service from the station four times daily from Raleigh to Durham, Greensboro, Cary and Charlotte. You can also go to Washington, D.C. or other destinations further away. For more information visit Raleigh Union Station Amtrak.
Learn how to bring your bike on the train.
Once you reach your train station at the end of your trip, you can use a free bus pass, obtained from the conductor, to get to your final destination.
Car- & Vanpool
To view car- and vanpooling options for your route, visit Share the Ride NC .
Carpooling
A carpool is two or more people commuting. Carpooling is an excellent alternative to driving alone and is a great way for employees to share expenses. As an employer, this is the easiest program to implement and make available to all employees. Preferential parking may be offered as an incentive.
Vanpooling
A vanpool is made up of five or more commuters who live and work near each other and share approximately the same work hours. GoTriangle provides the van, pays for gas, arranges, oversees and pays for all maintenance. Riders pay a monthly fee to participate. Ask your employer about vanpool subsidies.
Emergency Ride Home & GoPerks
Emergency Ride Home and GoPerks are housed on the Share the Ride NC statewide website and app. Customized work site branded portals are available free of charge for employers.
Emergency Ride Home (ERH) gets you home if an emergency ever strikes. This service is available to those who commuted to work by a method other than driving alone. Use it if:
- You or an immediate family member gets sick or has a crisis
- Your carpool driver must leave unexpectedly early or stay late
- You must work unscheduled overtime
Employers can register their organization at no cost so that all employees get six free emergency rides home per year. Each employee must register on SharetheRideNC in order to use ERH.
Share the Ride NC houses GoPerks where employees can log their commute on the commute calendar and enter drawings for a chance to win gift cards for local restaurants and businesses in the Triangle.
Teleworking
Teleworking allows employees to work from a location other than their usual place of business — for example their home, a satellite office or a co-working space. Businesses interested in setting up a telework program should visit nctelework.org. No commute is the best commute.
Creative Work Schedules
Compressed Work Week
A compressed work schedule allows an employee to work a traditional 40-hour week in less than the conventional number of workdays. By allowing employees to adjust their work schedules, companies can use this as a recruiting benefit and employees can eliminate commute trips. An example of a compressed work week could be a 4/10 work week — Forty hours are worked in four 10-hour days, reducing the employee’s commute trips by 20 percent.
Flextime
Allowing your employees a more flexible schedule makes it easier for them to use transportation options to driving alone. Under a flextime arrangement, employees are given some degree of choice for their own starting and ending times.
Parking Cash Out
Parking Cash Out programs are also an effective way to encourage employees not to drive to work alone. Under this program, an employer gives employees a choice to keep a parking space at work or accept a cash payment and give up the parking space.
Best Workplace for Commuters
This program is part of Raleigh’s Sustainable Business Toolkit, a collection of programs designed to help businesses and other organizations save money and help reach the goals in the city’s Community Climate Action Plan.
Contact your Commute Smart Consultant to find out how you can become a nationally recognized Best Workplace for Commuters employer. This national award recognizes organizations providing outstanding commuter benefits.
