For residents and commuters through Maryland, a large number of programs, services, and events exist to help reduce the impact of commuting. The month of May has been designated Clean Commute Month and a number of promotional events take place leading up to and during the month. Although promotional events occur in May, every month is a good time to evaluate your commuting habits to reduce expenses, emissions, and time.

Learn More About Clean Commute Month

Commuter Choice

Commuter Choice Maryland is a state funded program that provides incentives to encourage people to reduce the impact of their commute. Reducing the number of people commuting also reduces the amount of emissions, congestion, and accidents. The program provides tax incentives for employers to encourage decreased automobile use for employees and offers a guaranteed ride home for commuters so they are not dependent on a car in case of an emergency.

For more information on the program, check www.commuterchoicemaryland.com.  A summary of program benefits and results is available here.

Options for Commuters

To improve or simply add variety to your commute, take a look at some of the following alternatives:

• Transit - Train, bus, and even subway services are located throughout Maryland and surrounding areas. Reduce your driving costs and stress level by taking one of these modes to work. There are many park and ride locations throughout the state to increase access to these alternatives. Ask your employer to participate in the Commuter Choice Program to provide reduced-price transit passes!
  
  
  • Park and Ride Locations
    
  • Charm City Circulator - Free bus service along three routes in Baltimore City
    
  • Transit information for the Baltimore Metropolitan Area (MTA)
    
  • Transit information for the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMATA)
    
  • Transit information throughout Maryland
    
  • Public Transit Trip Planner using Google Maps (Covers limited cities, but includes the Baltimore-Washington area)
    
    

• Carpool - If driving is your best option to get to work, an additional rider can help improve the commute and reduce costs. By alternating driving with other carpool members, you can reduce the amount that you have to drive and be driven to work instead. Try setting up a carpool with others you work with - you can meet at a central location like a park and ride lot, or be picked up at your house. Be sure to discuss schedule requirements and expenses for gas to keep everyone happy in your carpool. To locate possible carpool members from outside your office, try the Commuter Connections website, it matches up potential carpoolers throughout Maryland and into the surrounding states.
  
  
• Bike to Work - You may enjoy riding your bike for exercise or pleasure, but how about using it to get to work? Combine your daily exercise with your daily commute to reduce commuting costs and emissions.  The Baltimore Metropolitan Council has more information on bike commuting
  
       Bike Map and Other Bicycling Resources from the City of Baltimore.


• Teleworking - Shorten your commute by working from home or a location closer to home. Teleworking involves working on assignments from a remote location, but remaining in contact via telephone and email. Often, this means working from a home office or a telework center near your home. Some people telework often, while some telework infrequently due to work assignments. If teleworking is appropriate for your job, it is a great commuting alternative to consider.
  
  
  • Telework information from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council
    
  • Information on teleworking and locations of telework centers from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governements
    
    
• Compressed Work Week - Another way to reduce the impact of your commute is to commute less. By working a compressed work week, you have to make commute fewer trips to work. A compressed work week means that you work more hours each day and as a result, go in to work fewer days. A common two-week (80-hour cycle) schedule is to work 9 hours on Monday through Thursday, 8 hours one Friday with the opposite Friday off. You work the same total hours, but save your time by making fewer commute trips. A compressed work week may not be appropriate for all jobs but is a good commuting alternative to keep in mind.
  
  
  • More information on compressed work schedules is available on the CommuterChoice website

Events for Commuters

There are a number of annual events that promote commuting options or provide ways to improve your current commute. Many are annual and occur in the Spring, so check the links to get the most current information:

• Clean Commute Month Information from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, including information on the Clean Car Clinics hosted around the Baltimore Metropolitan area to help keep your car running efficiently
  
• FlowerMart - An annual May festival in Downtown Baltimore
  
• TowsonTown Spring Festival - An annual May festival in Towson
  
• GreenWeek and the EcoMart Festival - An annual Spring festival in Baltimore at Druid Hill Park
  

Useful Links

Baltimore Metropolitan Council 


Report A Smoking Vehicle

Please let us know if you see a vehicle with excessive emissions by clicking here.  Excessive emisions usually indicate a problem with the vehicle's powertrain or exhaust system and have negative impacts on air quality and vehicle operation.

Point of Contact

Please direct questions of comments concerning this program to Justin Mabrey of the Mobile Sources Control program at (410) 537-3270 or jmabrey@mde.state.md.us