Texas Voters: Avoid Congestion, Get Free Rides On Election Day

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Traffic avoidance is often added to the list of reasons not to go vote. Enter the safe-driving app Drivemode to disabuse those intent on using that excuse on that notion, with a study that predicts traffic congestion on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov 6., complete with lists of the best times to travel to polling sites.

In Austin, which has notoriously sluggish rush-hour commutes, many residents use the excuse of traffic to avoid some activities. The same could be said of drivers in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and other cities. But the new study pinpoints exactly when roadways will be the most hospitable on Election Day (hint: try 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 2 p.m. or 6 p.m.).

Drivemode predicts election-day traffic in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio by analyzing nearly one year's worth of Tuesday traffic patterns in each of those cities. Concern about traffic is heightened given this year's historic Beto O'Rourke-Ted Cruz Senate race that's sparking unprecedented midterm enthusiasm, with candidates battling for every vote.

Related story: Austin Voters Get Free Bus Rides To Cast Election Day Ballots

Texas big-city gridlock may be a typically overlooked contributing factor to voter turnout, but it's a real factor among voters, as Drivemode researchers explain. To help motorists navigate to their polling sites with the quickest possible route, Drivemode breaks down the less-congested times at various Texas cities:

• Austin: According to Drivemode, 6 a.m. is the fastest drive time all day, 17.3 percent faster than the 7 a.m. drive period. The second-fastest drive time all day is 9 a.m., researchers found. Faster by 15 percent than afternoon rush time between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. is 2 p.m., according to the study. For its part, 6 p.m. is up to 15 percent faster than afternoon rush (3 p.m to 6 p.m.).
• Dallas: 9 a.m. is the fastest drive time all day; up to 19.9 percent faster than morning rush (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.) By comparison, 3 p.m. is the second-fastest time of the afternoon rush (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.). And 6 p.m is the fastest afternoon rush hour, 10.5 percent faster than the 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. rush hour period, according to analysts.
• Houston: In H-town, the fastest drive time of the day is at 6 a.m. Those venturing to the polls a littler later will find that 9 am is up to 8 percent in the morning rush between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. In the afternoon, 6 p.m. is the fastest afternoon rush hour — up to 8.9 percent faster than afternoon rush between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• San Antonio: The Alamo City has its share of congestion, but 6 a.m. is the fastest drive time all day, 24 percent faster than 7 a.m. The fastest afternoon rush hour is 3 p.m., according to analysts, up to 9.7 percent faster than traffic during afternoon rush between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Those traveling to the polls at 6 p.m will be traveling 13 percent faster than the 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. rush period.

Take the bus instead, leave the driving to someone else

Voters averse to traffic might also check to see if their transit systems serving their areas are offering free Election Day rides. In Austin, Capital Metro will offer free rides to the polls in an initiative they dubbed with a bit of wordplay: "Exercise Your Ride to Vote." Houston's bus system also will be offering free rides to the polls. For more information, click here. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART, also will offer free Election Day rides for those who don't want to contend with traffic congestion on Election Day. Not to be left behind, Via Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio also will offer free Election Day rides to polling site.

Or, grab an e-scooter (but please don't leave it in the middle of the sidewalk afterwards)

Even e-scooter firms are getting in on the act. Lime, now operating in more than 100 cities across the nation is offering voters a code, LIME2VOTE18 to unlock the Lime fleet of shared bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters for a free ride to and from polling locations, up to 30 minutes.

Lyft, Uber offer discounted fares on Election Day travel

Lyft will discount rides to polling sites on Nov. 6 by 50 percent off or up to $5 off rides across the country and free rides to under-served communities "that face significant obstacles to transportation." To get a discount, enter your zip code on Lyft's partner, Buzzfeed's website.

Uber will take $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day on the most affordable Uber option available in your city (Express POOL, POOL or UberX, in that order). You'll need the most recent version of the Uber app to take advantage of this offer, and then can enter promotional code VOTE2018 in your app.

Perform big civic duty in tiny Zipcar

Not to be left behind in the embarrassment of free-ride riches, Zipcar will offer discounts too. Take a Zipcar on election night between 6 pm. and 10 p.m. Tuesday and get $20 off a future trip. Learn more at www.zipcar.com/drivethevote.

Important tip: Take along your voter registration card if you opt to take advantage on one of these offers. Some free-ride participants will need that as proof that you're actually headed to the polls.

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