emergency ride home
It's free for employers and employees!
Emergency Ride Home Program
Overview and FAQs
What is the Emergency Ride Home Program?
The Emergency Ride Home Program (ERH) is an opportunity for employers in the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area to provide employees with up to four free taxi rides home each year in case of personal or family emergency when they commute to work by carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus, biking, or walking.
ERH is one of the easiest, cost free benefits an employer can offer its employees. It’s a great way to show your employees you care.
Why is the Emergency Ride Home Program Offered?
Thousands of employees carpool, vanpool, ride the bus, bike, or walk, instead of driving alone to get to work. They are helping to ease traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and cut down on parking demand at company worksites. Research tells us that one of the main reasons many people drive alone to work is the security of having a car available to them in case of an unexpected emergency. By providing a free emergency ride home, we can increase the number of employees in the community who choose transportation options to travel to work.
Who offers the Emergency Ride Home Program and how is it funded?
Point2point, is the region’s transportation options management program and is housed at Lane Transit District. Point2point is overseen by an advisory committee of representatives from local jurisdictions acting in response to increased traffic congestion, environmental risk factors, and the mobility challenges facing our region. Partner agencies include the cities of Eugene, Springfield, and Coburg; Lane County, Oregon Department of Transportation, Lane Council of Governments, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, Eugene 4J, Bethel School District, Springfield School District, and Lane Transit District. Funding for the Emergency Ride Home Program is provided by regional jurisdictions, and state and federal funds.
How Does the ERH Program Work?
An employer must first enroll in the ERH Program, sign a program agreement and designate someone at their worksite to administer the program.
When an employee experiences a personal or family emergency on a day they commute to work by means other than driving alone, they simply obtain a signed taxi voucher from the ERH Administrator at their worksite, who calls a taxi from the taxi provider list. Point2point will be invoiced directly by the taxi provider and will pay the entire cost of the ride. We’ll even include a 10% tip!
Who is eligible?
Any business located within the greater Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area and outlying communities of Cottage Grove, McKenzie Bridge, Junction City, Veneta, Elmira, Coburg, and Oakridge is eligible to enroll in the Emergency Ride Home Program.
Any employee that works for a participating employer may register for this free program. The employee must have used an alternative commute mode on the day ERH is used. Limit of four Emergency Rides Home per year.
What Emergencies are covered?
- Employee or a family member suffers an illness, injury, or other emergency.
- The employee’s home or property is damaged by fire, burglary, or similar emergency.
- The employee’s carpool/vanpool driver has an emergency and has to leave early.
What’s not covered?
- Personal errands or scheduled appointments
- Overtime or business related travel
- Missed carpool, vanpool, bus, etc.
- Inclement weather
- Personal vehicle or bicycle failure
Where Can You Go?
All rides must originate at worksites located in the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area. The employee can be dropped off at home, a transit stop, or the location of their parked car (e.g. a Park & Ride lot). Emergency-related side trips on the way home are permitted, including picking up a sick child at school or daycare, or filling a prescription at a pharmacy.
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