Cool Business: Transform Transportation

Written By Bridget Newman

Did you know that transportation makes up about 67% of our local greenhouse gas emissions?

By expanding our options, we can make moving around fun, safe, and non-polluting. Plus, we help alleviate traffic congestion and parking demands for everyone else. Fortunately, our city and county have been working hard to provide us with alternative modes of mobility.

When thinking about opportunities to reduce our transportation emissions for our businesses:

  • What could improve our supply chain?

  • What could help our clients or customers?

  • What could help our employees?

Cool Business - Transportation Options

For your storefront or office:

  • Request a FREE bike rack from the city 

    • Note that they only install in city right of way, so on streets, sidewalks, parks, etc

  • Become a Redwood Bikeshare partner - Offer easy access to electric bicycles for commuting, running errands, or simply enjoying the ride. Riders can pick up a bike at one station and drop it off at another—making it simple to explore their city without the need for a car. Be recognized as a force for environmental change by participating.

    • Contact Redwood Bikeshare at liat@dropmobility.com to learn more about:

      • Sponsoring a hub near your business

      • Displaying your brand on the bikes & hub signs

      • Promoting your business in the app

      • Partnering on events

      • Bulk memberships

For your customers:

For your employees:

  • Make alternative transportation part of your benefits package. For relatively little cost, employers can show they support transportation options that reduce traffic and emissions.

  • Use the Go Sonoma’s Employee Commute program

    • The Employer Commute Program Toolkit takes employers through the steps to get started and consider program elements that are available in Sonoma County.

    • The Spare the Air Employer Program has an array of regional resources for commuting. You can register to stay up to date on how businesses are helping to Spare the Air and clean commute alerts, a quarterly newsletter and other announcements.

    • The Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program, through 511.org, can guide you through compliance requirements for employers with 50 or more employees. Employers with less than 50 Bay Area employees may also be subject to a local commuter benefits ordinance.

    • Bay Area Commute Tips has a list of incentives offered by different public and private organizations that employers can offer their employees.

  • Use the Go Sonoma’s Incentives and Encouragement

    • Download the How to Use Emergency Ride Home flyer. This program will reimburse rides home in cases of a qualifying emergency for anyone who works or goes to college in Sonoma County and uses an active or shared transportation option.

    • 511’s vanpool and carpool incentives can encourage individuals to find matches and ride together.

    • Transit passes and discounts may be available to fit employee needs.

    • Become a bike friendly business and encourage employees to ride their bikes.

    • Bike to Work day (in May) is a great way to encourage your employees to try out a bike commute.

    • Let employees know that the Go Sonoma website is a good place to get started! Download a GoSonoma flyer in English and Spanish.

Find residential resources here.

Bridget Newman
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