Guaranteeing You Won't Get Stranded By Transit

15 September 2009 - 6:00am

An often cited reason for not using alternative transportation is the unpredictable: what if I need a car for something unexpected? A non-profit is now offering guaranteed rides to those who ride transit, bike, or walk, up to $100 per year.

Ecology Action, a nonprofit in Santa Cruz, is hoping to encourage more alternative commuters by offering them the comfort that if they need a car for an unexpected reason, they can have one. The "RideSurance" program would cost commuters $24 a year. For that price, commuters get a voucher for $100 of cab rides, bus passes, or rental cars to be used in the event of an emergency.

The program is currently subsidized by a grant from the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. Coordinators hope RideSurance will someday pay for itself, or at least require minimal subsidy.

Source: San Jose Mercury News, September 14, 2009
Bookmark and Share
Now, more than ever, Americans are clamoring to get out of their cars and have more transportation options than the car-centric approach first envisioned and deployed in the 1950s is providing.