Pay me not to drive?

June 8, 2011 8:03 AM

Are there any programs that reward people for moving to within walking distance of their work place?

I am buying my first home, and it happens to be across the street from where I work. As I was driving the 10 miles from my current place to work, it got me wondering if there are any eco-friendliness/traffic-reduction programs that might exist to encourage people to eliminate their commute entirely. So, earth friendly metafilterians, know of any? Tax credits, grants, free shoes?

Seattle, WA area

posted by nomisxid to Law & Government (6 answers total)

My employer has a program called live near your work that provides grants, some pretty substantial. Some of the areas it covers aren't quite within (safe) walking distance but most are, and they are all pretty close, within a mile or two of some part of the university. (All are within range of the shuttle system too.) I think this program is aimed at urban revitalization as much as eliminating commutes / eco-friendliness, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is typical; they don't offer incentives for already gentrified/revitalized areas. I know a bunch of people who've used this program and it seems like a pretty great deal.
posted by advil at 8:20 AM on June 8, 2011

Some employers offer incentives (often in the form of favorable mortgages or downpayment assistance) to employees living within a certain distance from the workplace (on preview, as advil says-- looks for programs like that).

It also looks like the City of Seattle offers incentives though Way To Go Seattle, and it looks like there was a location-efficient mortgage program in the Seattle area at one point-- though it also looks like that was a short-lived program that has shuttered. There are some other green building incentives (including transportation) listed here-- but, again, some of that info may be out-of-date.
posted by Kpele at 8:25 AM on June 8, 2011

This may be obvious but call your car insurance company and tell them you won't be driving to work anymore. It will probably knock quite a bit off your premiums.
posted by ghharr at 8:25 AM on June 8, 2011 [4 favorites]

My employer recently started pushing Nu Ride, which mostly seems to offer coupons for miles not driven, but is a benefit. I don't see your area yet, but I get the impression it's expanding quickly.
posted by ldthomps at 9:01 AM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

When I worked for BC Hydro, I earned redeemable wellness credits for walking to work. I also got wellness points when I worked at a software company in Vancouver. I cashed them in for good walking shoes.
posted by acoutu at 9:56 AM on June 8, 2011

My employer charges us $15 each paycheck for the privilege of driving/parking.
If you sign up for ride-share a certain number of days every week, then you don't have to pay.
Also, I think you can get discounted bus passes.
So, in that way, someone walking does get a slightly larger paycheck.
--bc
posted by calgirl at 7:09 PM on June 8, 2011