RideSolutions.org connects individuals and employers with transportation options
RIDE Solutions: Connecting the Region's Commuters
RIDE Solutions is a regional alternative transportation service operated by the Roanoke-Valley Alleghany Regional Commission in cooperation with the New River Valley Planning District Commission that provides carpool matching free of charge to individuals and employers. We exist to provide commuting options to residents and businesses of the Roanoke and New River Valleys of Southwest Virginia, encouraging the use of those options to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicles on the road.
Using computer mapping software, we are able to match commuters based on their origin and destination points, their schedule, and lifestyle qualifications. We then facilitate the formation of carpools through ongoing communication with commuters, providing additional matches as new commuters are added to the database. We can also connect commuters to transit routes and provide information on walking, biking and other alternative transportation options. Through our Guaranteed Ride Home program, we are able to offer members a free taxi ride home in case of an emergency, providing an insurance policy for those who worry about being stuck at work.
By offering commuters alternatives, we are trying to reduce the number of single occupant vehicles on the road, improving air quality in the region, reducing unnecessary energy consumption, and easing the strain on our transportation infrastructure. Through this effort, we provide individuals and employers a way to save money and improve their community's quality of life.
We focus on two main areas: facilitating carpool matches among individual commuters who sign up for the service, and working with employers to create alternative transportation programs at the worksite level.
Why You Should Consider the Alternatives
Save Money
Most commuters can save over $1,000 a year by carpooling with one other person through fuel, maintenance, and insurance savings. The savings can climb higher if commuters are paying for parking. Businesses that join with RIDE Solutions can reduce demand on parking infrastructure, freeing up more spaces for customers or converting some surface lot space to other uses such as storage or even recreation areas. Business that subsidize employee parking by significantly reduce or eliminate these subsidized through an active alternative transportation program. RIDE Solutions can also help businesses implement a Commuter Choice program through the IRS, providing tax-deferred transit or vanpool subsidies.
Save Time
Americans spend, on average, 100 hours a year simply driving to work and back, more time than most people get in vacation! Spend that time doing something you enjoy. Walk or bike to work instead of going to the gym. Take the bus or carpool to read the newspaper or latest bestseller, listen to your iPod, get a head start on your work day, or even enjoy a short nap instead of dealing with traffic. Carpooling, walking, biking and using public transit eases road congesting, reducing the amount of time you're stuck in traffic. Consider telecommuting one or two days a week to cut your commute altogether!
Save the World
By using transportation alternatives, commuters significantly decrease the amount of harmful emissions dumped into the air from single-occupant vehicles. Carpooling reduces fuel consumption, helping ease our reliance on a limited natural resource. Reduced traffic means a reduced demand for additional transportation infrastructure, savings taxpayers money and conserving the region's natural resources. Using alternative transportation is a simple thing that any individual can do to have a dramatic effect on our regional environmental quality.
Managing Transportation Demand
In the past ten years, carpooling has declined 14% in the region and an appreciable amount statewide in Virginia, causing the demand for transportation infrastructure to outpace changes in population – increasing even where population may be decreasing.
Increased transportation demand in the Roanoke region has resulted in one definite problem: Air pollution. Despite the differences in development and population size, Roanoke has been dealing with the same kinds of air quality issues that have plagued Northern Virginian cities and much larger metro areas all over the country. Vehicle emissions are significant contributors to both ozone pollution and particle pollution. Air pollution in turn has an adverse effect on public health.
When we look at transportation issues such as traffic congestion, lengthy commute times, or access to shopping and employment centers, the solutions that are generally offered – building more roads, changing traffic flows, providing more parking – do not always address this problem, and can perhaps even encourage it. But we can look at the other side – reducing demand. Not only does this help reduce problems like traffic congestion, it reduces cars on the road and reduces emissions, improving air quality, reducing energy consumption, saving money and improving quality of life in the region.
Green Living
Managing transportation demand is one aspect of Green living and building sustainable communities. Sustainable communities are created around the idea of walkability, bicycle friendliness, and proximity to transit centers, all qualities that encourage citizens to reduce the number of vehicle trips they need to take, and to use cleaner modes to take necessary trips. RIDE Solutions can help you obtain or maximize the impact of several LEED credits at no cost and with no administrative burden on the part of the development.
- 4.1: Alternative Transportation – Public Transportation Access. Sites within 1/4 mile from a public transit route can receive this credit. RIDE Solutions can, through education and computerized mapping assistance, help your employees learn the routes and timetables so that they feel comfortable replacing single-occupancy vehicle trips with transit trips. We can assist in implementing tax-deferred transit benefits, either subsidized by the employer or paid by the employee, and users of public transit who register with RIDE Solutions receive the benefits of our Guaranteed Ride Home program.
- 4.2: Alternative Transportation – Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms. Through our RIDE Solutions Bike Rack Donation Program, companies are eligible for one or more free bike racks plus installation assistance. To help commuters move to bicycle commuting as a regular option, we can provide maps of bicycle routes in the area, online assistance, and training assistance to help potential cyclists with the challenges specific to bicycling as a commute option.
- 4.4: Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity. This credit requires the development to limit or reduce the number of available parking spaces and reserve spaces for carpools, reducing vehicle trips to the site. We can provide "Reserved for Carpool" parking signs and work with the employer to create other appropriate incentives. Of course, all these services are free, and we handle all the administrative work of matching carpool partners and communicating with members.
RIDE Solutions Workplace
RIDE Solutions and other carpool programs have been around in Virginia for many years, but carpooling continues to decrease. However, now fuel costs are increasing and people are looking for ways to save money. Even so, commuters are hesitant about changing their habits. They’re concerned about losing freedom if they take
RIDE Solutions and other carpool programs have been around in Virginia for many years, but carpooling continues to decrease. However, now fuel costs are increasing and people are looking for ways to save money. Even so, commuters are hesitant about changing their habits. They’re concerned about losing freedom if they take the bus or join a carpool. They’re concerned about sharing a ride with people they don’t know. They’re concerned about inconvenience. But studies have shown that if an employer encourages alternative transportation, even offering their own carpool services, then commuters are more willing to change their behavior.
RIDE Solutions can work with businesses or groups of businesses to establish employer-based carpool programs. There’s no cost for this – RIDE Solutions does all the work and supplies all materials and services. We work with employers to create a customized program with as little or as much involvement as they want. We can provide educational sessions, web sites, applications, brochures, whatever form of information an employer needs. We just need help in getting the word out to employees and encouraging them of the benefits. By implementing an alternative transportation program, not only do both employers and employees save money, but businesses play a vital role in the health and beauty of our region’s environment.
Current Workplace members
- Baker Hughes
- Breakell, Inc.
- Carilion Clinic
- Claude Moore Education Complex
- Cox Communications
- Draper Aden Associates
- Echostar
- Elizabeth Arden
- Hill Studio
- Hollins University
- ITT Nightvision
- Kollmorgen
- Lewis-Gale Medical Center
- Liberty Medical Supply
- Montgomery County
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- New River Community College
- Orvis
- Rowe Fine Furniture
- Shenandoah Life Insurance
- Salem Veteran's Affairs Medical Center
- SoftSolutions, Inc.
- Roanoke City Public Schools
- The Roanoke Times
- Town of Blacksburg
- Town of Vinton
- Virginia Tech
- Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center
- Virginia Western Community College
- Wachovia
- Western Virginia Water Authority
- WSLS Newschannel 10
Funding
RIDE Solutions is funded in part by participating local governments through the regional Planning District Commissions, with matching funds provided by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit.
Service Area
RIDE Solutions serves the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaksi, and Roanoke; the cities of Covington, Radford, and Roanoke; and the towns of Blacksburg, Boones Mill, Buchanan, Christiansburg, Clifton Forge, Dublin, Fincastle, Floyd, Glen Lyn, Iron Gate, Narrows, New Castle, Pearisburg, Pembroke, Pulaksi, Rich Creek, Rocky Mount, Troutville and Vinton.
Contact
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- (540) 342-9393
- (866) 424-3334
Address
- 313 Luck Ave. SW
- P.O. Box 2569
- Roanoke, VA 24010
External Links
- Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission
- New River Valley Planning District Commission
- U.S. Green Building Council: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
- Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit
- Alexa: RideSolutions.org
- WHOIS for RideSolutions.org
| 22 Dec. 2006 |
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