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Whether it’s financial, like offering commuter benefits, or other means, companies are making it easier for employees to commute with the help of government and nonprofits.

In Austin, Texas, the Central Texas Transportation Management Association works with businesses to help get employees to work. The association is called Movability, and it is “dedicated to working hand in hand with employers to improve the region’s economic vitality by connecting commuters with mobility options that save time and money.”

On average, we spend $2,600 in commuting costs. And that’s along with spending nearly 30 minutes commuting — one way — everyday.

Add it all up, and it is a lot of time and money. However, there are ways you can get something back. Here are 10 tips on how you can cut commuting costs.

Navigating your commute is never easy. Thank the commuting gods for transit apps to help you along the way.

Mobility Lab, a research center and news source for transportation behavior and policy, listed what it says are the three best transit apps to help you on your commuting journeys.

The recommendations don’t come lightly. Mobility Lab first published an article in 2015 on the best apps for riders. Since the transit app world has changed, they decided to update their recommendations by comparing the different features of what’s on the market.

Before we unveil the apps and what makes them different, here is what they have in common. You get real-time arrival information for public transportation, ride-hailing and other modes of getting around.

The apps also provide directions for trips, and work in most major cities. And if you’re a Google Maps or Apple Maps user, you’ll like the fact that the apps can give you real-time arrival information without having to tap in your destination.

Here’s an overview of what Mobility Lab recommends to help you make your trips easier.

Does your daily life revolve around the car? Or are you predominately a walker, biker or mass transit rider?

The answer can involve where you live, how much you make and many other interesting demographic factors.

The website CityLab did a statistical analysis of the commuting data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and found many interesting facts. The data covered more than 270 metro areas.

CityLab’s thesis, based on research of various data, says how we commute is a significant aspect of the nation’s economic and political divide. The car has become a key feature within the trends that are developing.

For example, areas with more college graduates have less single-occupant commuters. Weather doesn’t have as significant an impact on commuting as you think as more people drive to work than use transit where the weather is warm.

Here are some the specific findings for commuting options.

Commuting in the winter when you live in states that see harsh winters is rough. Even though you are saving on commuting costs with commuter benefits, freezing is no fun.

You need to leave earlier than normal because everyone is clogging up the subway and bus stops are crowded. But the walk to the transit stop is dreadful, so here are some ways to stay warm on those cold commuting days. 

Do you want to make more of your morning commute? You can dedicate some time to read if you use public transport to get to work. In this blog post we are going to share some tips to make that happen.

Is there anything more frustrating than a carefully crafted commute getting derailed by late trains, slow buses or dead stop traffic?

Google has launched new features in its Maps app to help you avoid these situations (hopefully). Take a look:

The impact of a long commute can be scary. People with longer commutes can suffer physical ailments like headaches, backaches, fatigue and concentration issues. Then there are the mental and emotional impacts like depression and mental exhaustion.