We all know traffic in the metro-area is no joke. And it's not just how much money you spend on your daily commute that isn't funny. It's the added stress of trying to get anywhere on time!

Each year, the average commuter in the Atlanta metro area wastes 51 hours in traffic at a cost of over $4,000.

The good news is, Atlanta, like many other congested cities, is making strides in encouraging commuters to find alternatives to driving. Since 2007, there has been a 20 percent increase in commuters who carpool, vanpool, take transit, ride a bike, walk to work or telework three or more days per week in Atlanta.

Last year, Georgia Commute Options was formed by several regional transit groups to help metro-area residents find free services to help them get to and from work. Online at Gacommuteoptions.com, you'll find everything from a commute calculator to help you figure out how much you spend on your commute to a range of services such as a ride-matching service that matches you up with fellow carpoolers. It is also the place to register for certain incentives (a.k.a. MONEY) offered to those who switch from a single-driver commute to an alternative.

Some options, such as telecommuting are really catching on. Others, such as biking to work, have a ways to go. According to a 2011 Metro Atlanta Regional Commuter survey, of people who take commute alternatives, 40 percent telework, 30 percent carpool or vanpool, 28 percent use transit and two percent bike and walk.·       

But first things first...why would you even want to give any of the alternatives a try? It's good for the environment, it saves money, there may be health benefits, it saves money, and it saves money.

Georgia Commute Options has incentives for carpoolers and vanpoolers in the form of gas cards, but any individual who switches from solo to a commuting alternative can also earn $3 per day, up to $100 in a 90-day period. Anyone who already uses an alternative form of commuting can earn a $25 gift card in a random monthly drawing.

And just to make sure you're never left stranded, there is also a Guaranteed Ride Home program. If you have an emergency, Georgia Commute Options will reimburse up to five trips home per year via cab, car, etc. but you must sign-up for the service before the event occurs.

There are also Commuter Tax Benefits. Employers can allow employees to use pretax dollars to pay for transit passes, vanpool fares and parking up to $490 per month ($245 for transit/vanpool and $245 for parking) under Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits. Bike riders can be reimbursed up to $20 per qualified bicycle commuting month.

Still need a reason to get started? As it turns out, Oct. 1 just happens to be the kick-off for the 2nd Annual Bike to Work Challenge.

So in honor of commuters everywhere, here is the rundown on commuting alternatives and how they may save (and earn) you money.

Carpooling

You use your car and share the ride to work with your friends or co-workers. Register online to find willing carpoolers. Once you find a match, be sure to register for special incentives. Carpools with three people can earn a $40 gas card each month and carpools with four or more people can earn a $60 gas card each month. Carpooling (or vanpooling described below) everyday, can save you more than $2,000 per year.

Vanpooling

This alternative to carpooling is typically set up by an employer, a building or co-workers. It involves 12 to 18 people who pool funds to rend a van and cover gas. They generally meet at a park and ride location then drive to work. Some groups have designated drivers, others may rotate driving duties through the group. This option is ideal for commuters who have a long drive. Employers will often subsidize the cost, and both employers and commuters can get tax benefits. You can find existing vanpoolers online and you qualify for some of the same incentives as carpoolers.

Transit

MARTA offers many passes and discounts that can help you save money. Passes range from $9 for a one-day pass to $95 for a 30 day pass. There are also discounts for students, seniors and corporate partners which get discounts based on the number of company employees enrolled in the program. Some companies may also subsidize the cost for employees who take public transportation.

MARTA serves Fulton and DeKalb counties, but depending on where you are commuting to or from you may also benefit from transit systems in Gwinnett, Cobb, Henry and other counties. There are also neighborhood commuting options such as "The Buc," Buckhead's free shuttle  and Cliff Shuttles near Emory University.

Car Sharing

This newer addition to commuting is still evolving. In some cases, you may rent out your car to other people. More commonly, you rent a car from a service such as Zipcar. Rates can range from $8.25 per hour to $50 per month depending on your needs. There's a handy map that give locations in the metro area where Zipcars are available.

There are also app based services like Lyft.com and Uber.com which leverage technology to offer you a ride whenever and wherever you need it. You use the apps to request a ride and pay via the app. A driver shows up. When your ride is complete, your credit card on file is charged. No tipping required. And if you ride with friends, Uber will automatically split the bill evenly so no one has to pay you back.

These aren't great options for daily commuting, but worth mentioning for two reasons: Both Lyft and Uber are offering free rides right now! It's free week at UberX. Reserve a spot now through Oct. 3 to get four free uberX rides in Atlanta up to $30 per ride.

Lyft is also offering a free ride up to $20 with the code FREERIDE. 

Bicycle/Walk

This is the least popular commuting alternative probably because it requires you to be within a certain proximity to your job in order to use it effectively. Biking is growing with efforts like the Bike Challenge which had 1,000 participants last year. These are also good choices for anyone looking to improve their health and you can always combine biking or walking with another commuting alternative and still save money and earn incentives. Atlanta Bicycle Coalition helps you stay on top of new bikeways that have been completed so you can plan a safe route.

Telework/ Compressed Work Weeks and Flextime

Work from home, work "off" hours, or work 40 hours in four days. Any of these options can reduce the time and money you spend on your commute and all are becoming more acceptable in a range of industries. Need help making the case to your boss? Georgia Commute Options offers services and assistance to commuters and employers.