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.
