The Drive: MnDOT, city aim to reduce number of solo commuters

Last month the Minnesota Department of Transportation told us that congestion on metro area highways increased by 2 percent last year and grimly predicted that drivers will encounter clogged roads a lot more often as the population grows and pushes the freeway system closer to capacity.

A good reason for the rush-hour gridlock is that more than 3 out of 4 of us going to and from our jobs drive there by ourselves.

This Thursday, MnDOT and the city of Minneapolis will join cities across the world in marking World Car Free Day, when solo commuters are encouraged to leave the car behind and try other modes of transportation. That could be taking the bus or train, biking or walking, or at minimum picking up a co-worker or friend and carpooling. The whole idea, as buttons from Move Minneapolis say, is “Don’t be an SOV” — that’s a single-occupant vehicle.

http://www.startribune.com/the-drive-commuters-don-t-be-an-sov-on-the-road/393902061/