What is Rideshare Week?
Rideshare Week is an annual, statewide campaign designed to encourage commuters to take personal responsibility for reducing traffic and smog by pledging to rideshare. Southland commuters who participate are eligible to win prizes. According to a Caltrans study, 60% of commuters who try ridesharing for the first time during Rideshare Week continue to rideshare at least occasionally afterward.
When is it?
Rideshare Week in always the first week in October, Monday-Friday. At least one day during the week, commuters are urged to carpool, vanpool, take the bus or train, walk, and ride a bike to work or telecommute.
Who participates?
All commuters are encouraged to participate. Hundreds of employers will host events at work sites promoting Rideshare Week.
Why share the ride?
Southern California leads the nation in air pollution and traffic congestion. Currently eight in ten commuters drive alone to work and traffic congestion is growing by 3% each year. If changes aren’t made, average rush-hour speeds will drop by more than half in the next decade – from 35 mph to 15 mph. Sharing the ride is a low-cost solution that will help meet Southern California’s growing transportation needs.
Sponsors
Metro encourages employer to become a sponsor for Rideshare Week.
Ideas for a Great Campaign – Pledge to Rideshare
Make sure you let employees know where and when to return their pledge cards. There’s a blank space on the pledge card where you can write instructions such as where to return the pledge card.
Help new riders find a partner. Pair them up with an existing car/vanpool, find a transit/rail partner and provide route schedules by calling 323.GO.METRO or 511 and saying, "Los Angeles County Rideshare." Hold department competitions for the highest participation. Incentives such as coffee and donuts or promotional items work well.
Consider distributing and collecting pledge cards in one spot. A good idea: setting up a pledge card table in the lunchroom or at meetings.
Keep the Rideshare Week message going strong with posters, email messages, newsletter reminders, displays and announcements at meetings.
For more information, contact Metro Commute Services at 213.922.2811.
Last Revised:
Monday March 01, 2010
