Carpooling – public transportation – bicycling –telecommuting…ALL are ideas being put forth this week in Sarasota & Manatee counties. Commuter Choices Week is a yearly effort to promote alternative transportation. Two events are scheduled. Wednesday from 11 to 1:00 at the Lemon Avenue Mall in downtown Sarasota - then again Thursday morning from 7 to 9 at the Manatee County Area Transit Bus Station. There will be informational booths & giveaways – all encouraging people to leave their cars at home. Dominick Locascio is Sarasota-Manatee Commuter Assistance Coordinator.

“The key thing is to get single occupant vehicles off the road and try and reduce some of the traffic congestions. Walking, telecommuting…anything like that…anything that would free up the vehicle and leave it at home. So many people take their cars when they really don’t need to.”

Locascio says rising gas prices, and more traffic make alternative transportation more desirable.
He also says VANpooling is becoming more common. That’s when a group of workers ride to work together in a van—provided by their employer. There may be tax incentives for employers who adopt such programs.