Earlier this month, we hosted our second Commute+ Reimagined webinar, discussing alternative commuting modes and their roles in post-COVID commute management.

At TransitScreen, our focus has always been on lowering the number of drive-alone commutes — whether that's through public transit, biking, carpooling, or any myriad option. With the onset of COVID-19, however, commutes have been completely disrupted (to the point where many of us are simply traveling from our beds to our couches).

As offices begin to reopen and employees begin commuting once more, concern over increased drive-alone rates is rampant. Many employers can't afford to add more parking (or simply don't want to), but employees may not initially feel safe on the subway or bus. We're incorporating real-time parking into our CityMotion mobile app to support your commute management program through this challenging time, while continuing to provide information to push your employees toward sustainable options.

We’ve been writing a lot about how to make commuting easier and safer for employees, mostly about what you can do to encourage sustainable commuting and different options and benefits you can offer. Now it’s time to think about the end-of-trip experience.

Companies have recently begun putting their return-to-work plans together for when quarantine restrictions are lifted. That means figuring out how employees are going to commute, how many employees will be coming back right away, and which resources will be needed to make the return as smooth as possible.

Right now, with a little more time on our hands, we have been thinking about ways employers can help their employees. We know we’re probably the only people thinking about commuting at the moment, but that’s what we do – especially for when lives go back to “normal.” 

One purpose of implementing office amenities is to attract potential employees. Maybe more importantly though, it’s to retain the talent you already have. Offering useful amenities is more conducive to creating a positive employee experience than superficial additions.

You’ve already decided  to provide commute-based office amenities for your employees — now you have to decide what you’re going to provide. Like we said, it’s important to pick what is best for your office, your employees, and your location.