Emissions Reduction Toolkit

Implement a Guaranteed Ride Home Program

What Is It?

Guaranteed Ride Home is a service provided by employers (sometimes included with membership to a TMA) to commuters who regularly vanpool, carpool, bike, walk, or take public transit. It provides them with a reliable ride home if and when an emergency arises. Usually, the employer or the TMA provides the ride home by cab, rental car, bus, or train at no cost to the employee.

Benefits

With a guaranteed ride home, employees carpooling, biking or taking transit can do so knowing that should an emergency arise they will be able to get home quickly and conveniently. These programs have the potential to remove the barrier to driving alone and result in fewer single occupancy vehicle commuters, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

Financing Options, Incentives, and Rebates

• Best Workplaces for Commuters: Step 1: Find Funding

NEWS

• “How Smart Cities Can Increase Public Transit Ridership (Industry Perspective),” GovTech.com, May 17, 2017
• “Emergency Ride Home program gives carpoolers peace of mind,” The Columbus Dispatch, March 26, 2017

RESOURCES

• Best Workplaces for Commuters:
  • Establish Guidelines
  • Create Systems to Provide Rides
  • Register and Educate Commuters
  • Manage Effectively and Effortlessly
  • Marketing Tips
• Green Action Centre: Sample Emergency Ride Home Policy

A SAMPLE OF PROVIDERS

• A Better City TMA (Downtown, Financial District, Back Bay)
• Allston-Brighton TMA (Allston-Brighton)
• Charles River TMA (Cambridge)
• Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization (Longwood Medical/Academic Area)
• Seaport TMA (S. Boston Waterfront)
• TranSComm (BU Medical Center)