Ridesharing on Campus
In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, campus congestion, and become more sustainable many campuses look to transportation solutions. Many campuses have successfully implemented car share programs and bike share programs to tackle transportation related issues.
Another program embraced by many schools that has been around for significantly longer yet continues to have success is ridesharing. Ridesharing (also referred to as carpooling or vanpooling) is defined in many ways, perhaps most simply as when people going to the same location ride together instead of driving individually. Major promotion of ridesharing began during World War II when the government encouraged it in order to save fuel and metals. Today many other benefits are recognized.
By riding together there are fewer cars on the road, which in turn reduces air pollution, traffic congestion, and road stress. Ridesharing is also fiscally beneficial; because it reduces the amount of money spent on gas, car maintenance, and can reduce car insurance by driving fewer miles. Many cities also have dedicated commuter lanes.
Many colleges and universities have strong organized rideshare programs on their campuses and continue to promote them to reduce congestion and become more sustainable. Institutions offer many incentives to encourage this practice including reduced parking fees, preferential parking spaces, subsidized or free bus passes to get around campus, and emergency rides. Some campuses even pay individuals that commute. For example, California State University Long Beach pays employees who choose to commute $1/day for commuting.
Below are examples of benefits different institutions have recognized from their rideshare programs as well as examples of rideshare programs. Some schools run their own program, while others partner with outside organizations.
Campus Examples of the Benefits of Ridesharing
- Commuter Calculator 1(Sacramento Region Commuter Club)
- Commuter Calculator 2(Cornell University)
- Cornell University Rideshare Benefits
- Californian State University, Pomona Rideshare Benefits
- Emissions and Cost Calculator(511.org San Francisco Bay Area)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Examples of Institutions that use Ridesharing Companies
- Florida International University
- Grand Valley State University
- University of Florida
- University of Michigan
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Stanford University
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- West Virginia University
Examples of Institutions that have own Rideshare Program
- Los Angeles Harbor College
- Stanford University
- Syracuse University
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Davis- Vanpool
What experiences has your campus had with ridesharing? Does your insitutition have examples of what worked and what didn't?
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ridesharing
RideShark is a commute management system used by a number of universities and colleges. It includes matching for carpools, vanpools as well as bike, walking and transit buddies. It also has a commute tracker where people can register their commute and participate in events and contests such as commuter challenge, bike to work week, etc. Information on all sustainable modes is included so as to be inclusive of everyone (even driving tips to reduce fuel consumption). Google transist is incorporated where available. Incentive managmeent is a huge success factor in post secondary institutions.
Our experience has shown that those institutions that promote ridesharing in combination with the promotion of all sustainable options has the most success. The trigger to get people to consider ridesharing or other sustianable options is to encourage participation with contests,events, and where feasible, rewards or prizes. We've had as many as 35% of the population participate with this kind of outreach. Another important consideration is security - people are astute in these organizations and don't want to participate if the system isn't guaranteed to have solid privacy and security features.
Sharon Lewinson, RideShark www.RideShark.com