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What do you think of when you hear the word “travel”? In a very informal office poll here in Chicago, six out of six people immediately thought of airplanes or cars when they heard the word. Webster’s Dictionary defines travel as “a; to journey through or over, b: to follow a course or path…,” so really, travel can include anything from a hike through the woods to a hot air balloon ride to the next town.

In today’s economy, people are thinking on a smaller scale, trading in long-distance vacations and looking for cheap alternatives to flying. The staycation trend may be getting stale, but a recent Intelligent Travel post says Americans bought more bikes than cars in the first quarter of 2009.

Another trendy method getting lots of news coverage recently is train travel, even being called “the new luxury.” It tends to be less expensive (depending on the destination) than air travel, and according to Amtrak’s Web site, is also energy efficient. If you’re still set on flying to your next destination, more cities are adding train service from the airport to downtown for those who would rather not drive a rental car through rush hour traffic.

Personally, I’m in favor of branching out and exploring new and different transportation methods instead of relying on the usual suspects. Trains and bikes may not be feasible options for business travel, but for those who have more time, there are other options. Trains are much less likely to be delayed than planes, and you’ll get a better eye-level view of the scenery on the way. And if you’re going for a day trip to the next town? Avoid traffic! Ride a bike…