Though apps that provide a common platform to view various transit, bike, and pedestrian routes have become more popular, they're not the only way to get people out of their cars and onto more sustainable transportation modes. This story addresses the limitations of mobile apps as well as the successes of integrating more reliable and frequent transit methods in reducing regular car use.

After “the shock” that laid off many coal miners in Delta County, Colorado, the area is experiencing a resurgence. Population is growing, finally, and a fiber optic internet company has stimulated the economy with new jobs. The company, Lightworks Fiber, has been on hiring spree, with 40 positions they are still looking to fill. It’s still a big transition from the coal economy - but not necessarily a bad one.

As the Mountain West transitions away from mining and other industrial economic drivers, rural cities find their way into successful economies by relying on local entrepreneurial spirit and the surrounding landscape. Businesses like SmartLam in rural Montana rely on local resources - in SmartLam's case, timber - and sustainable, future-oriented strategy to make a ripple in the economy of the rural West.

Cities across the world have implemented “congestion pricing” – meaning that cars in high-traffic areas will have to pay a fee to drive within those limits. New York City is one of the most recent cities to potentially implement this approach in its attempt to reduce congestion and encourage walking, biking, and public transportation.

Kansas City, Missouri is the first major U.S. city to offer free bus rides city-wide, hoping to expand access and boost the local economy. The city emulates free public transportation plans around the world, which have seen success - and struggles - with increasing equity and economic stimulation through no-cost transportation plans.

In Wyoming, the state's school funding model recaptures money from affluent districts and reallocates it to districts with fewer resources. This unique and heralded system has allowed Wyoming to keep the doors of its rural, one-room rural schoolhouses, which often are a key part of a communities' fabric, open.

Private bus companies are beginning to offer an alternative method of transportation in the American West. As younger travelers seek to reduce their carbon footprint, companies like Flixbus are stepping in where rail connections are still lacking. Especially when compared to flying or owning a car, buses offer a carbon-efficient form of travel over long distances. Companies like Flixbus also offer convenience, meeting travelers on university campuses.

Small, rural grocery stores around the country keep their doors open by using creative, cross-sector financing, recruiting local volunteers, and thinking outside the box as many residents move closer to urban areas. One such store in Wimbledon, North Dakota re-organized as a non-profit and applied for government funds as well as opened a community cafe within the store to boost traffic and revenue.

Public school districts are gradually transitioning to electric buses. Electric utilities, concerned about environmental impacts and overloading the grid, are helping to cover the high price tag.