FAQs
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For Children
What is transportation?
Transportation describes the ways we travel. Buses, boats, taxis, trains, and even horses can be forms of transportation.
What is a commuter?
A commuter is anyone who travels regularly between places, like home and work or home and school.
How can transportation be bad?
If every commuter drove alone, the roadways would be packed with vehicles, causing traffic jams (congestion) and pollution.
What is congestion?
Congestion happens when too many vehicles are on the road and traffic flow slows down.
What is pollution?
Pollution happens when the smoke that comes out of our cars from burning gasoline (called emissions) goes into the air.
What are some alternatives to driving alone?
- carpool or vanpool
- biking
- walking
- taking a bus or other public transportation
- riding a school bus to school
What is a carpool?
It's when people heading in the same direction ride together. When people ride together in a van, we call it a vanpool.
What are the benefits of carpooling or other alternative means of transportation?
- protects our environment by reducing congestion and pollution
- saves our families money by reducing the amount of gasoline we have to buy
- saves time by reducing the number of vehicles on the roadways
- promotes exercise and a healthy lifestyle
What is a smart transportation choice?
When everyone thinks about the way they travel from place to place and then figures out if there is a better way to travel.
How can kids make smart transportation choices?
We know you can't drive, but you will someday. When you make plans with your friends, you can arrange your own carpool. Plus, you can talk to your parents, teachers and other adults about their transportation choices. You can tell them everything you've learned and encourage them to change their habits.
What is RideShare?
It is a program of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission in Charlottesville, Va. RideShare educates commuters and students throughout Central Virginia about how transportation affects the environment and encourages alternatives to driving alone.
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For Educators
What is the book, "A Day on the Go," that is featured on this website?
"A Day on the Go: Making Smart Choices with Zach and His Friends" is an educational workbook, designed for children in grades 3 through 5 by RideShare in Charlottesville, Va. The workbook follows the adventures of four friends as they carpool, walk and bike around their neighborhoods. Filled with stories, activities and games, the workbook is both educational and entertaining.
How can I get copies of the book?
We are happy to make the workbook available to anyone interested. Please contact RideShare via phone at (434) 295-6165 or e-mail at rideshare@tjpdc.org.
Are there any costs involved?
No, there is no cost.
What is RideShare?
It is a program of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission in Charlottesville, Va. RideShare educates commuters and students throughout Central Virginia about how transportation affects the environment and encourages alternatives to driving alone.
What additional resources does RideShare offer educators?
On our website, we offer a full list of resources about public transportation, biking, walking, and local efforts to improve transportation and the environment. Your students might find our maps especially interesting and helpful. Our website is www.rideshareinfo.org.
Which school systems or schools are using the book?
The program is new and just getting started. We expect to have many schools involved in the near future.
Which age groups are appropriate for this book?
The workbook was written and designed for children in grades 3 through 5, but children younger and older also can benefit from the information.
What is the best way to incorporate this material into my classroom?
A natural fit for this material is when your class is studying the environment or when you are doing a unit on communities and neighborhoods. You will find it easy to include this material as part of your students' math education as well — distances, money saved vs. money spent for travel, etc.
As classroom discussions involve character traits, the workbook offers opportunities to discuss reaching out to neighbors and helping others. The ideas are limitless.
How was this material developed?
RideShare consulted with educators — including an elementary school reading specialist with decades of experience — when developing the concepts and activities.
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For Parents
What is the book, "A Day on the Go," that is featured on this website?
"A Day on the Go: Making Smart Choices with Zach and His Friends" is an educational workbook, designed for children in grades 3 through 5 by RideShare in Charlottesville, Va. The workbook follows the adventures of four friends as they carpool, walk and bike around their neighborhoods. Filled with stories, activities and games, the workbook is both educational and entertaining.
What can I do to help my children understand the importance of smart transportation choices?
First and foremost, you can start making them yourself. Show your children the importance by doing it.
Also, you can start speaking to them about the environment and how it is our responsibility to take care of our surroundings. Our individual efforts may not seem significant, but when added to everyone else's, the outcome can be of great and lasting importance.
You can use smaller examples of everyday life to draw the picture for them, such as: If no one in our family put our dishes in the sink or put our garbage in the trash can, then pretty soon our house would be dirty. But each little effort starts to solve the problem.
What's the best way to talk with my children about making smart transportation choices?
There is no best way, but there is a simple way - just start talking. Introduce the topic as you are driving somewhere or you encounter traffic. Mention the words pollution and congestion and discuss their meanings. Dinnertime is a great opportunity to bring up the subject and ask for ideas about different modes of transportation or ways to help the environment. Make a game of it! Another way is to discuss the topic when your child's homework is related.
While all that talking is great, you also need a plan. Come up with some ideas for your family and then try them out. Make a commitment to sign our promise certificate. Make a certificate with your child for them as well as yourself.
I'm in a situation where I can't carpool, what should I tell my children?
Many people are in your situation. Carpooling is not the only method to improve transportation issues. You can do lots of little things that will make a difference over time. Here are just a few:
- Park once in a shopping center parking lot and walk to all the stores you visit — rather than moving your car closer to each destination.
- Never drive to a neighbor's home. Commit to walking if someone lives on your street or in your neighborhood.
- If you live close to a store, don't drive to pick up a couple of items. Walk or bike there. Buy a basket for your bike to make it easier.
- Make a list of all your errands by area and then tackle them in order. It'll keep you organized, prevent you from backtracking, and save time and gas.
What is RideShare?
It is a program of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission in Charlottesville, Va. RideShare educates commuters and students throughout Central Virginia about how transportation affects the environment and encourages alternatives to driving alone.
Where can I find other materials, appropriate for children, on this same subject?
On our website, we offer a full list of resources about public transportation, biking, walking, and local efforts to improve transportation and the environment. Your children might find our maps especially interesting and helpful. Our website is www.rideshareinfo.org. Also, check out your local library.
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