Roanoke, Va., March 10, 2008 – RIDE Solutions welcome the Salem Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center as its newest Workplace partner. It joins a growing number of regional employers – including Virginia Tech, Shenandoah Life, Hollins University, Lewis Gale Medical Center, and many others – who recognize the benefits of alternative transportation. By encouraging their 1,400 employees to carpool, bike, walk, or take the bus to work, the Salem Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center provides a cost-saving commute option for their staff in the face of ever-increasing gas prices, and establishes itself as a leader in the effort to improve air quality and reduce energy consumption in the region.

Through its Workplace program, RIDE Solutions partners with area organizations to implement employer-based alternative transportation programs. By working directly with company leadership, RIDE Solutions can more easily educate employees about the cost-savings and environmental benefits of using alternatives even as little as one day a week. RIDE Solutions supports its employer partners with promotional materials, contests, communication plans, even bike racks and signage, all free of charge.

With this support, Workplace partners dedicate themselves to improving the region’s air quality and providing an important transportation alternative for their employees, all the while reaping benefits like reduced parking demand, more space for customers, free employee benefits, and a smaller carbon footprint. More information about the Workplace program can be found at ridesolutions.org/workplace.