Commute Friendly WNC

What is Commute Friendly WNC?

Commute Friendly WNC is a free workplace and campus certification program that encourages employers and colleges to take an active role in supporting multimodal employees, students, and visitors. It is a program that recognizes and celebrates those organizations that go the extra mile to promote ways of getting around our community that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. (That means carpooling, vanpooling, public transit, biking, walking, and even remote work!)

Why get certified as Commute Friendly?

The Commute Friendly certification is both a recruitment tool and a bragging right. But it’s also a community of like-minded businesses, campuses, and organizations who care about making Western North Carolina a place where transportation is not a barrier to employment or education, and where every mode of transportation is an opportunity to connect and build the future we want.

Most importantly, becoming certified unlocks all of Go Mountain Commuting’s free programming. Check out the benefits page to learn all about what Go Mountain does for participating orgs.

Your organization is a good fit for this program if…

• you have people who have to commute in from far away, and you want to make it easier for them to reach you (or)
• you have limited parking at your location (or)
• you have employees, students, or customers who can’t afford a car (or)
• you’re located near a bus route (or)
• you’re located in a walkable or bike-able area (or)
• you know of a greenway that’s planned nearby (or)
• your organization has sustainability goals or commitments (or)
• you want to live, work, and play in a community that has less traffic congestion!

Whatever the reason, we’re here to help you move your people! Interested in becoming certified? Come to our next quarterly networking session to learn more and hear from others who are already involved. Reach out to sandy@landofsky.org to get a meeting invite for the next session!

Once you’re certified, you only have to recertify every other year. But Go Mountain’s programming will be available to your organization all year, and we’ll check in quarterly.

How to get certified

1. Fill out the application.
2. Go Mountain will review your application to see if you qualify, and follow up to schedule step 3 below.
3. Applicants will receive an on-site assessment and consultation. This is so Go Mountain will know how to tailor programming for your workplace or campus, and how we can collaborate to enhance your commuter offerings. Those who apply but do not qualify for certification will still receive an on-site coaching session for how to level up!
4. Participating organizations must fill out Go Mountain’s biennial commuter survey.
5. Participating organizations must promote the Commute Friendly WNC program on their storefront. Organizations must also agree to promote the program on social media, or to other employers, at least twice a year.

Certification Levels

The workplace badges are shown below, but if you’re a college or university, your badge will say “campus” instead of workplace. You’ll receive one of these stickers for your storefront after you certify!