ADD MULTIMODAL DIRECTIONS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION’S WEBSITE.

If your business has a website and only provides parking directions, it’s time to make updates.

Why? Transportation choices matter.

Because this may seem overwhelming for someone who is not well-versed in walking, cycling, skateboarding, carpooling, or taking the bus and train, I’ve broken it down for you.

Rail

If your organization is one or two miles from a train station, let clients know. From there they can walk, bike, take a bus or shuttle, or call a taxi.

Ex: Suzy’s Super Scented Soaps is 1.2 miles from Union Station and is served by the Hartford Line.

Bus

To be helpful, you can provide the name of the transit district that serves your organization, so that visitors from outside your region know who to turn to for schedules. You can also list bus routes that stop by your facility. Another simple solution is to link to Google Maps, which offers several multimodal commute options.

Ex: Suzy’s Super Scented Soaps can be reached using CTtransit‘s frequent 31-33 bus, or the CTfastrak 161. For schedule information, see Google Maps.

Bike

Tell visitors where they can store their bicycles and if there is a locker or changing room on site.

Is your business located on or near a bike route? Say so!

Pro Tip: Do not assume visitors will stop biking when the weather gets cold; keep the organization’s rack(s) cleared of snow.

Ex: Visitors arriving by bike can park in two locations. There is a rack on the sidewalk by our building’s Park Street entrance. There is a covered rack inside the Hartford Monopoly Parking Garage, adjacent to Suzy’s Super Scented Soaps. 

Ex: We are located 1/8 mile from the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and provide awning-covered bike parking right by our front door.

Walk

If your facility is within a city or town center, let visitors know this. On average it takes 20 minutes to walk a mile. Name a few nearby points of interest.

Ex: Suzy’s Super Scented Soaps is within a ten-minute walk of Union Station, Bushnell Park, the State Capitol, and dozens of restaurants.

Carpool

Are there organized car- or vanpool services in your area? Link to them. In the Hartford area, CTrides helps to connect commuters with these options, making it simple to pass this information along to new company hires.

Ex: Not served by transit? CTrides can help you find carpool and vanpool options in your neighborhood. 

Car Parking

Now, go ahead and mention where your parking entrance is and if there is any fee to park. By noting this last, you are sending the message that this is not the preferred travel method.

Ex: You can access the Hartford Monopoly Parking Garage from 9999 Park Street; there is a $5 per hour fee for cars and motorcycles. 

Et Cetera

  • Don’t just drop these directions and run. Consider including a brief note: “We encourage sustainable, multimodal transportation.”
  • CTrides offers free Lunch & Learn sessions that help your employees design car-free or car-lite commutes

Sidebar to HR Departments: Stop telling your new hires to live in the middle of nowhere. Is your office located in Hartford? Recommend employees to find housing in Hartford. It’s better for the planet, better for building a community, and better for retaining new hires.