Austin Traffic: How to Avoid It By Adjusting Your Lifestyle

Austin traffic is everyone’s favorite topic.

No matter who you talk to, they have an opinion on Austin traffic and who or what is to blame.  With 151 people moving to the Austin area each day, traffic joins death and taxes as the one certain.  So how do you avoid it?

There are several ways to lessen Austin traffic’s impact on your commute.  One way is to live in relation to your work in such a way that you have a “reverse commute”. That means your commute is the opposite of most drivers.

If your employer and job are amenable, you could talk to them about working flexible hours. Starting your workday slightly later and going home a little after rush hour could help avoid the very worst of the Austin traffic. By working, say, from 10 am to 7 pm, you will avoid the worst of rush hour.  Another option is to discuss working from home or coworking a few days a week to lessen the days you have to tangle with traffic.

Public transportation by bus or rail is another great way to deal with Austin traffic.

Public transportation by bus or rail is another great way to deal with Austin traffic. It won’t spare you rush hour, but you can spend your commute time reading, working or sleeping. Downtown buses also have a dedicated lane through downtown so they can bypass much of the congestion. Get started planning your commute on public transportation using trip planner provided by CapMetro.

Designated a "Gold Level" Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, you can also fight traffic and get exercise by riding your bike to work.  While on your apartment search, be sure to look for bike infrastructure. Proximity to work, bike lanes, and sidewalks will all make it easier to walk or bike to work.  Gridlock is a thing of the past if you get to whizz by cars on two wheels- or two feet!

Carpooling is another way to lessen Austin traffic’s impact on your commute. Coordinate with neighbors who work near you to share driving duties and gas costs. If you're a student at UT, they even have a carpooling program to help coordinate and find some fellow commuters. Plus, getting stuck in traffic is a lot more pleasant when you’re lost in conversation!