Parking always seems like an issue. You arrive at your destination and it feels like there are never spots available. You may find it hard to believe, but there’s actually an abundance of parking in the United States, and it takes up a lot of space, time, and money.

Spring semesters are starting up, so it’s also the time of year when on-campus parking starts trending on social media. Students, staff, and faculty members spend more time than anyone would care to admit looking for any spot – even in the back corner of the lot.

As the year (and decade) winds down, we took a look back at 2019 and picked our top five favorite trends in mobility, commuting, and TDM. The overall theme? Working together to make the decision to change from driving to an alternative form of commuting an easier one. From designated micromobility parking to an increase in pre-tax paycheck deductions, we are recognizing efforts that made an immediate impact and set examples for future change.

Do your employees travel more than 10 miles to and from the office each day? If so, you probably know long commutes can drain employees’ energy, enthusiasm, and pocketbooks. Long commutes put employees at risk for burnout, making them 2.6 times more likely to leave your company. They can also cause health problems such as high blood pressure and decreased levels of happiness. Fortunately, businesses can offset the harmful effects of long commutes with programs to help make long-distance working less stressful.

With the rise of transportation demand management requirements cities are passing down, employers need to take more and more measures to lower their drive-alone rate. Most cities put the burden on employers to offer better commuter benefits, continuously educate employees about what’s being offered, and actively updating TDM plans to fit requirements.

Being in a coworking space is an exciting time for young companies. In what’s often the company’s first office space, everyone is working and grinding to get their business off the ground and established. The free cold brew and beer on tap is also a nice touch – but we digress. While it can be exciting to be in a coworking office, the early startup time is always stressful, and commutes shouldn’t be an added pain.

Parking is expensive. Not just for commuters, but for employers and developers as well. As Donald Shoup says, even when parking seems free, it’s never actually free. To attract potential talent, employers will offer free parking, that they’re actually paying hundreds of dollars a month for themselves. But what happens when employees don’t have to drive and can spend a fraction of the cost of a parking space on alternative forms of commuting – like the metro or bus?