Services we Provide
Workpace partners have access to the following services and benefits through RIDE Solutions.
Research:
- Surveys: Online, in person, through the main, check stuffers, etc. Customized surveys to gauge interest in the program, potential usage, best way to communicate benefits, current usage of alternatives, etc. Results compiled and analyzed by RIDE Solutions.
- Density Analysis: If provided with employee addresses, can geocode and map employee origins and destinations to determine potential match rates within the businesses and against the broader database. Can also determine access to other alternatives (X% of employees on a bus route within Y minutes of work, X% within walking or biking distance, etc.). Can be done anonymously by assigning ID numbers instead of names to employees. All data can be returned back to employer.
- Impact: Can determine potential impact of TDM in terms of greenhouse gas reduction, reduced parking demand, reduction in miles traveled, and impact of business’s participation on broader regional air quality (can tie in reduction of vehicle miles to reduction in pounds of pollution).
- Trip Diaries: Record, online or through paper journal, trip diaries for all/certain employees to determine current habits and establish baseline behavior to measure change in the future (i.e., via trip diaries, determine that company generated X miles and Y emissions a day; after being a RIDE Solutions Workplace for a year, a renewed round of diaries generates a reduction of X and Y)
Promotion:
- On-Site Visits: Set up presentations, lunch-and-learns, attend open houses, etc.
- Promotional Materials: Can offer a range of promotional efforts – produce commercials for in-house TV, web ads, check stuffers, posters, flyers, etc., all customized to employers standards with costs covered by RIDE Solutions.
- Direct mail: Cover printing and postage for introductory direct mail registration drives.
- Registration Drives: Create contests and offer prizes for registration. RIDE Solutions covers some/all the costs of the prize (depending on what is determined to be an effective prize), administration of the contest/drive, and promotion.
- Events: Special promotion/contests during RIDE Solutions special events such as Clean Commute Challenge, that only RIDE Solutions Workplaces can participate in.
- Content: Articles for newsletters, websites, and other company publications.
- Website: Dedicated employer website (see our Virginia Tech web portal for a sample).
Incentives:
- Guaranteed Ride Home: Employees of Workplace parnters have unlimited access to the Guaranteed Ride Home program, and are not capped at 4 times a year as are other commuters.
- Commuter Choice Benefits: Help employer set up transit and parking subsidies, if requested.
- Savings Education: Work with employees to quantify savings through participation of program – “You’ve saved $2,000 this year by carpooling;” “The company has contributed to $50,000 in commuter savings by implementing this program,” etc.
- Signage and ID: Can provide “Reserved for Carpool” signs, “No Idling,” “Reserved for Scooter,” “Reserved for Carpooler of the Month.” etc., branded with RIDE Solutions and company logo. Others as requested by employer. All RIDE Solutions members will soon be getting window decals identifying them as members and their expiration date – employers can use this to identify use of reserved spaces or for other reasons.
- LEED Credits: Working with RIDE Solutions, interested businesses can receive the LEED Trip Reduction credit
- Awards and Prizes: Working with employer to determine need and appropriate prizes, can offer awards, recognition, promotional items, etc. to participants.
- RIDE Solutions Red Rack program: Employer partners can recieve one or more free bike racks.
Measures:
- Reporting: Offer reports back to employer on whatever iteration they request – weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.
- Participation: Report employee participation by mode.
- Carpools: Report number of carpools formed based on employee feedback.
- Matches Made: Report match letters sent out and the total potential matches made.
Recognition:
- Media: RIDE Solutions regularly sponsors recognition ads in local media, most recently the Valley Business FRONT magazine. Your business can be recognized with a name and logo placement in these Thank You ads.
- Online: Logo and company info on ridesolutions.org as well as throughout the RIDE Solutions online social network – YouTube, Facebook, Myspace, our blog, etc.
- Press Releases: Information sent out with every sign up detailing employers participation, expected results, etc.
- Regional Commission: Recognition at Regional Commissions meetings attended by leaders in local government.
- Clean Commute Challenge: Special recognition and chances to participate in the annual Clean Commute Day events.
RIDE Solutions is a service of the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission and the New River Valley Planning District Commission.
