By goDCgo . on
12/20/2010
After weeks of waiting in a state of tense anticipation, we finally have good news about the extension of transit benefits. The $230 benefit, which helps employees cover their commuting transportation costs, was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and was set to expire on December 31st, reducing the benefit to $120 per month.
On the evening of December 16, with the deadline looming, the House passed the bill to extend the “Bush/Middle Class tax cuts”. On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the legislation making extension official. With the signing, the transit benefit will stay at $230 per month through December 31, 2011.
Employers: please inform your employees of the extension and make any necessary adjustments. With transit fares increasing and the cost of gasoline going up, it is more important than ever to take advantage of the transit benefit and this extension.
If you have any questions, please contact goDCgo at 202-299-2186 or info@godcgo.com....
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By goDCgo . on
12/8/2010
It’s hard to believe it’s already December! While the D.C. area doesn’t generally get the kind of snow we saw last year, we certainly see our fair share of occasional flurries, as well as miserably cold temperatures and wet weather which can make for slick and treacherous conditions when biking on roads and trails. And as the days get shorter, most cyclists will probably be riding home from work in the dark. So, if you plan to continue commuting by bike through the winter months, start preparing now in order to stay warm and safe as weather conditions shift.
For tips on cold-weather commuting, we turned to the experts on doing just about anything in frigid, inclement weather: Canadians. The city of Toronto put out an impressive compilation of winter biking tips. Here are just a few important suggestions:
Before You Ride:
Leave extra time to cycle more slowly in wet and snowy conditions.
In case of snow, adjust your fenders, if necessary, so that there...
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By goDCgo . on
12/7/2010
Ahhh….the holiday season is upon us again, replete with its many joys: rosy-cheeked, smiling children, twinkling lights, the smell of baking cookies, the opportunity to dress your dog like a reindeer and tell all your friends that “he really likes it.” But it also carries just a wee bit of stress. There’s the baking of said cookies, hanging the pretty lights, travel plans, menus, and, of course, shopping. Lots and lots of shopping.
Which brings us around to goDCgo's predictably favorite question: how do you plan to get there? Here's a hint: don't drive! As we get closer to Christmas, the traffic around the area’s most popular shopping destinations will increase, and nothing promises to drain you of holiday cheer as certainly as sitting in traffic. And it’s not just any old traffic. No, it’s the “must-get-to-mall-before-the-person-next-to-me-who-is-trying-to-merge” variety in deadly combination with the “I-will-definitely-get-there-faster-if-I-block-this-intersection” type of traffic. And then there are the parking lots, a breeding ground for bad behavior. (Note: please don’t send someone from your car to stand in a parking place. That almost never ends well.) ...
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By goDCgo . on
11/19/2010
Mayor Adrian Fenty announced on Tuesday the installation of D.C.’s first electric car charging station. Located at the Franklin D. Reeves Center at 2000 14th Street, NW, the curbside station is part of yet another innovative pilot program, brought to you by the District Department of Transportation, and the first of 20 such stations planned for the District. DDOT partnered with Coulomb Technologies for funding through a $15 million grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from the U.S. Department of Energy. ChargePoint America, sponsored by Coulomb Technologies, provides the stations and manages the network, which will number 500 in the District and its environs by October 2011.
DDOT Director Gabe Klein, the man behind the recent spate of D.C.’s sustainable transportation projects, was onsite at the unveiling. Enthusiastically commenting on the significance of this latest development, Klein stated, “This charger represents a new direction for fuel efficient vehicles throughout the region. ...
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By goDCgo . on
11/17/2010
 Have you registered your SmarTrip card yet? Metro is encouraging everyone to register their SmarTrip card in anticipation of upcoming changes to their transit benefit management program, SmartBenefits, which will take place in 2011. By registering your card, you will also have the added security of knowing that your fare balance is protected if your card gets lost or stolen. Registering is easy, just grab your card and visit WMATA’s SmarTrip homepage here. After you register, you can also check your fare balance and trip history online. If you’ve already registered, check to make sure that your contact information is current as WMATA uses this to send you important information when necessary.
If SmartBenefits is not offered at your work place, contact a goDCgo Employer Services representative at (202) 299-2186...
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By goDCgo . on
11/12/2010
We have great news to share - Commuter Connections, the regional transportation network here in DC, announced in a press release earlier this week, that they would be bringing back their 'Pool Rewards program. To participate, commuters must start or join a new carpool, log some simple information about their commute online and complete a brief survey about their experiences. As a reward, participants can earn $2 a day ($1 each way) for every day they carpool to work over a consecutive 90 day period, up to the maximum of $130. We discussed some of the benefits of sharing the ride in one of our previous blog posts, and now you can add this cash incentive...
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By goDCgo . on
11/8/2010
Americans are in love with their cars. What’s more, for a variety of reasons, we like to drive them solo. Here are some favorites:
1) I need some alone time away from my family and coworkers. (Maybe it’s time to try yoga?)
2) I like to sing along with Pat Benetar in my car. (Hey, who doesn’t?)
3) I get most of my best work done while I’m sitting alone in traffic. (That’s just frightening. Please don’t tell us that.)
4) I don’t really like anyone except my cat. (Umm…you should probably just skip this article and look into biking.)
All questionably “good” reasons. Now let’s take a look at what would happen if you opted to share that car ride.
1) Lowered Stress Levels/Increased Productivity. According to a DDOT study, employees who carpool find their stress levels lowered by the increase in camaraderie that comes from riding together. Lowered...
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By goDCgo . on
10/29/2010
Gas prices rose again in October, jumping double digits since the beginning of the month in most areas according to the American Automobile Association. So what is the true cost of driving? If you take into consideration not only gas prices and auto payments, but also maintenance for the wear and tear on your car, and especially parking, the costs are a lot higher than you might think. For a majority of DC commuters, taking public transit or commuting by bicycle is a much more cost effective way to get to work.
Curious to see how your transportation spending compares to others? MSN recently launched Bundle, a source that allows you to compare your own spending and saving habits to others based on location, age, household and income. According to their website the average DC resident spent $103 on gas and $235 on auto payments and maintenance per month over the last year.
Need help navigating the city without a car? Check out our interactive...
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By goDCgo . on
10/25/2010
Neurology Magazine recently published an article that details some surprising benefits of walking. Not only is walking great for your physical health, it also benefits your brain.  One study found that walking six to nine miles a week helped to maintain gray matter, which plays a part in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other memory problems.
Need to find that perfect walking shoe? Popular shoe brand Rockport’s current ad campaign is all about Walkability – featuring fashion-forward, professional shoes especially designed for walking. For women in particular, Dr. Scholl’s and Gap...
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By goDCgo . on
10/19/2010
 Last month, Gallup poll reported that employees with longer commutes were more likely to report a variety of physical or emotional conditions. Gallup found that almost 1 in 5 U.S. workers spent more than 30 minutes getting to work, and as those minutes increased, so did neck, back or other recurrent pain. Employees with lengthy commutes also reported a higher incidence of high cholesterol or obesity. Commuting takes a psychological toll on employees as well. Workers were less likely to feel well-rested and experienced more anxiety as their commute times rose.
goDCgo is here to help! We can assist employers in advising employees about their quickest, least stressful commuting options. For example, evidence suggests that using public transit goes a long way toward reducing the psychological stress and physical complaints associated...
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By goDCgo . on
10/7/2010
The majority of DC area residents still use their cars as their primary mode of transportation for a variety of reasons, wreaking havoc on the local air quality. Sure, most people are well aware of the effect that vehicle emissions have on the environment, but often only in the abstract. What many of us don’t always perceive is the direct effect that our transportation choices have on our lives and health—right now.
 If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of area residents who don’t consider the environmental repercussions when you choose to drive alone, often idling for long periods of time in DC’s notoriously congested traffic, we ask you to reconsider. Columbia University’s Center for Children’s...
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By goDCgo . on
9/27/2010
Have you ever made it to the Metro station right when the doors of the train are closing? Then stand there giving off disgruntled vibes and bringing everyone around you down? Or arrived too early when you could have stopped to shotgun your fifth coffee of the day? (What—am I the only one?)Well, the nice folks at WMATA have introduced a new system to let you know in real time your next train arrival, making your life and your commute just a little more predictable.
Now, in addition to Metro’s online and web-enabled mobile resources, you can also dial up train arrival information using a good old-fashioned phone. Simply call Metro’s Customer Information number at 202-637-7000 and say “Next Train.” Then follow the prompts to hear when the next trains will arrive at a specific station within the next 20 minutes. If you’re not convinced that this is as simple as it sounds, just take a look at WMATA’s informative video posted on their website. There you’ll see computer-animated Abby and her mom talking metro...
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By goDCgo . on
9/15/2010
 DC will celebrate Car Free Day with the rest of the world on Wednesday, Sept.22, and we want to encourage you to take the pledge. Why? Because it’s good for your health, it’s good for your wallet and it’s great for the environment. And really, couldn’t we all do without quite so much traffic around here? But if these reasons aren’t compelling enough to make you want to scoot around town without the old ball-and-chain (umm…that’s your car), now you have the chance to win an iPad just for participating. All you have to do is go to www.carfreemetrodc.com to take the pledge and be automatically registered to win the iPad or other cool prizes.
How can you go car free? Good question. You have lots of options:
Boogie on down to your nearest metro or bus stop. For routes,...
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By goDCgo . on
8/23/2010
We don’t sell stuff here at goDCgo, but we saw this and just couldn’t keep it to ourselves. Today only, Groupon.com is offering a full-year membership to Zipcar plus a $50 driving credit for only $35 (they’re even waiving the sign-up fee)—that’s a savings of $90! Be sure to take advantage of this offer so you can see for yourself the benefits of car-sharing. You may even decide to give up your car once you realize what a cost-saving, hassle-free alternative Zipcar is to car ownership, not to mention the added benefit of easing your raging conscience by knowing that you’ve done your part to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (every one Zipcar erases 15-20 cars from the roads).
Even if you’re not ready to part with your car or you already take public transportation, Zipcar can be a handy backup plan for those occasions when public transportation isn’t available, a family member has borrowed your...
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