Commute Options
Memphians interested in finding fun, safe, and easy alternatives to their single-occupancy vehicle commutes have a wonderful ally in Commute Options! An initiative of Innovate Memphis, Commute Options serves as a resource to improve the choice to use public transportation, rideshare, bicycling, and walking to work or school.
We spoke to Nikki Dildine, the Commute Options Schools Program Manager, about all the ways Commute Options works to provide more options for Memphians looking for alternatives to single occupancy transportation.
What is the current focus of Commute Options?
Currently, our main focus is on our Commute Options Schools Program. Our goal is to increase the number of students walking and biking to school. We provide education and outreach to schools, and because our work is grant-funded, we are able to offer these services free of charge to schools. Some of our most recent projects include Walking School Buses, PE Bike Curriculum, and Traffic Garden STEM lessons.
How did Commute Options start?
Commute Options began in 2017 as an employer-based program to support employees that were using transit, biking, and walking for their commutes. Our program helped employers provide incentives to people choosing these alternatives over driving. In 2023, we shifted our focus to the schools program, which similarly aims to promote walking and biking over car trips to and from school.
