Press Releases

For Immediate Release

511 Rideshare to Reward Commuters Who Share the Ride

Safeway gift and gas card incentive arrives as pump prices surge

CONTACT:
Susan Gluss, 511 Regional Rideshare Program, 510.273.3650

Oakland, CA – April 25, 2006
With retail gasoline prices shooting past $3 a gallon statewide, the 511 Regional Rideshare Program is joining forces with Safeway to kick off an incentive campaign for commuters who share the ride to work. The “Rideshare Rewards” program announced today awards up to $100 in giftcards from Safeway or gas cards from Shell to solo drivers who join carpools over the next three months.

“We’re delighted to have Safeway, one of the largest grocery store retailers in North America, as a corporate sponsor for our new Rideshare Rewards Program,” said Tad Widby, project manager for 511 Rideshare. “We share the same goal of pursuing a cleaner, less-congested environment.”

Widby said the timing of the new incentive program couldn’t be more promising as retail gas prices continue to surge throughout the state.

“Gasoline prices shot past $3 a gallon last week, with experts predicting little relief later this spring or summer,” said Widby. “Rideshare Rewards gives new carpoolers a way to fight pain at the pump and ease the impact on the pocketbook.”

“As a major business in the region, we want to make sure we offer a significant percentage of our resources to help support the communities we serve,” said Jennifer Webber, Public Affairs Director for Safeway’s Northern California Division. Safeway is committed to making life a bit easier for busy families and individuals. A faster, less-stressful commute goes a long way toward that goal.”

Pleasanton-based Safeway is contributing retail value cards good at any Safeway store.

New carpoolers can earn $10 in gas or grocery gift cards for every five days they carpool, up to $100 within a three-month period. At the end of the year, 511 Rideshare will hold a drawing to award $1,000 to a lucky commuter who has carpooled at least 40 days during the program

511 Rideshare has earmarked $50,000 to fund the campaign. New carpoolers can sign up as of April 25; the rewards program officially gets underway May 1. Commuters will have until July 31 to sign up. The amount budgeted will cover at least the first 500 drivers who participate. The rewards cards will be distributed first come, first serve until funds run out.

Widby joined several Bay Area transportation officials at a media event at Oakland’s Fruitvale Village station plaza to offer details about the program.

Commissioner Shelia Young, the Mayor of San Leandro who represents Alameda County on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), said easing congestion would benefit the region’s economy. “We must reduce rush hour traffic to help the region attract new businesses and retain existing ones,” said Young. “In addition, drawn-out, stressful commutes can lower job satisfaction and worker productivity.” MTC sponsors the 511 Rideshare program.

Michael Cunningham, the Bay Area Council’s Vice President for Transportation, said the Rideshare Rewards program is modest but essential. He noted that 36 percent of the 600 residents surveyed for the 2006 Bay Area Council Poll said traffic congestion is the most important hurdle facing the nine-county region.

“Transportation has been the No. 1 concern for most of the 20 years we’ve published the poll,” said Cunningham. “We need to tackle the region’s transportation woes to create a robust business climate.”

Rush hour congestion is damaging the environmental health of the Bay Area,” said Stuart Cohen, Executive Director and co-founder of the Transportation and Land Use Coalition. “We must find ways to reduce the number of cars on the road so that we can live healthier lives. The Rideshare Rewards program will help us achieve that goal.”

Widby said 511 Rideshare’s efforts to convince commuters to carpool is picking up speed. Registration at the Web site during the first quarter of 2006 was up nearly 20 percent compared to a year ago. During the first three months, he said 3,146 commuters had registered to rideshare compared to 2529 registering in 2005.

To learn more about 511 Rideshare Rewards, including eligibility guidelines, go to 511.org and click Rideshare, or call 511 and say “Rideshare.” 511 Rideshare, like all the travel information on MTC’s popular 511 phone and Web system, is a free service. 511 Rideshare also runs an ongoing vanpool incentive program that rewards commuters $300 to $900 for starting and operating vanpools.

About 511 Rideshare

511 Rideshare is a free service funded by grants from the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and county congestion management agencies. It helps commuters find other drivers to carpool or vanpool together to work. Qualifying carpools can cross Bay Area toll bridges free of charge during commute hours, and those new to ridesharing may qualify for financial incentives or subsidies. For more information, visit the Rideshare page at 511.org.

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