Written by Emily Bohr, Outreach Specialist, OEEC

Transportation is the largest source of emissions in Fairfax County. Getting around the county accounts for more than 40% of total greenhouse gas emissions — not to mention air pollution that directly affects health — making transportation the county's biggest not-so-hidden environmental challenge.

Fortunately, Fairfax County has plenty of alternative transportation options besides solo driving. By choosing these alternatives, you can help cut down on emissions, reach your destinations efficiently, save some cash and boost your overall health and well-being! Why not explore a new way to get around?

The Benefits of Driving Less 

• Going greener: Driving less helps the environment. By choosing to bike or walk somewhere, you’ll reduce your transportation emissions for that trip all the way down to zero. Public transit and carpooling also reduce individual on-road emissions. 
• Saving money: You can save hundreds of dollars per year on gas and vehicle maintenance by choosing to bike or walk for at least half of your trips under 3 miles!
• Supporting your health: Driving less has mental and physical health benefits. Biking or walking to your job or to a transit station near you are a great way to get in your daily exercise and decompress before and after work. 

Alternative Transit Options in Fairfax County

You have tons of options for you to get from point A to point B — let’s walk and roll!

• Biking and walking: In addition to reducing vehicle emissions, biking and walking can improve your health and help you skip traffic! If you choose to bike to work, you’ll be in good company — hundreds of your fellow Fairfax County residents commute to work by bike! The county offers plenty of resources for cyclists and pedestrians, such as a bike map, tips for biking to work, and safety tips. In addition, the Capital Bikeshare program provides bikes and e-bikes available for rent at locations across Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.
• Buses: Fairfax Connector has 93 routes – each designed to get you where you need to go! You can use the bus to access the D.C. Metro, Amtrak, and Virginia Railway Express stations; George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College; shopping hubs like the Mosaic District and Tyson’s Corner; and more.
• Metrorail: The county has 13 Washington Metro and Transit Association (WMATA) stops on the Orange, Blue, Silver, and Yellow lines — perfect for those commuting to Washington D.C., Dulles International Airport, or other destinations in and around the area. Use the trip planner to make travel a breeze. 

Need to Drive? You Can Do So More Sustainably!

Sometimes, you can’t avoid getting in a car. If that’s the case, there are still plenty of ways to reduce your emissions. 

• Carpooling: You can carpool with coworkers or check out Commuter Connections to find potential carpool riders in your area. 
• Trip Chaining: Planning efficient trip routes to reduce the number of stops you need to make can help reduce your emissions. 
• Smart Driving Practices: 
  • Avoid idling your car or running it while parked. This creates unnecessary emissions when you’re not driving. 
  • Make sure your car is serviced regularly, and tires are filled to the recommended pressure — driving with an un-tuned engine or under-filled tires can cause your car to use more fuel, resulting in more emissions and wasted money. 
  • Driving closer to the speed limit saves on gas! Utilize your car’s cruise control to help maintain speed.
  • Remove any unnecessary items to reduce your vehicle weight, which in turn, can increase your fuel efficiency. 
• Switch to an Electric Vehicle: Electric vehicles are reliable and save a lot of money on gas and maintenance. They don’t have tailpipe emissions, and they even can be powered by renewable electricity. We recommend trying to avoid solo vehicle trips but if you must go solo, an electric vehicle makes the trip much cleaner. Explore our Electric Vehicles page to learn more. 

Learn More

Find out what Fairfax County is doing to promote sustainable transportation on the Climate Action Dashboard. Learn more about how the county encourages safe and efficient walking, biking, and scooting with Fairfax County’s Active Transportation webpage. 

Are you a federal worker who has had to increase your in-office work? Our Department of Transportation launched a new commuting resource for federal workers returning to a daily commute to help reduce traffic congestion.

Emily Bohr has served as OEEC's outreach specialist since 2022, supporting the office’s communications and public outreach. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from George Mason University and recently completed NASA's Earth to Sky course, gaining a deeper knowledge of climate communication. 

Climate Matters is the blog of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, where we share stories, insights and information related to climate change and environmental sustainability. Posts are written by knowledgeable and passionate OEEC staff members and guest authors. To read all blog posts, visit Climate Matters.