ERH Toolkit
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Step 2: Establish Guidelines |
A program administrator typically faces a variety of issues when establishing
a new ERH program. Should the program be called “emergency”
or “guaranteed” ride home? Who should be eligible for the
service? What circumstances should merit providing a ride? How should
rides be provided? How often will a commuter be able to use the service?
Choosing a Program
Name: “Emergency” versus “Guaranteed”
In this toolkit, the term “emergency ride home” is used in
a broad sense. It refers to services that arrange transportation for commuters
who do not have a car at work and who need an emergency ride home. Some
organizations choose the term “guaranteed” to stress the customer
service and reliability of their programs. Others choose the term “emergency”
because it conveys the out-of-the-ordinary nature of circumstances that
justify the ride and that the term “guaranteed” communicates
a sense of excessive entitlement to commuters. Ultimately, the choice
between “emergency” and “guaranteed” depends on
the image you wish to project.
Eligibility Requirements
Determining who will be eligible for an emergency ride home is among the
first steps to take in developing your program. A more restrictive eligibility
requirement will limit the number of commuters who can utilize the service;
a less restrictive policy may result in greater participation from commuters.
Here are some common parameters used to restrict eligibility:
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Commuters must pre-register for
the service. |
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Commuters must participate in a rideshare
program. |
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Commuters must buy a weekly or monthly
transit pass. |
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Commuters must rideshare, bike,
walk, or take transit to work a minimum number of days. A typical
cutoff might be: |
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At least 2 or 3 times per week; or |
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At least 8 to 12 times per month. |
In addition to these eligibility requirements, most ERH programs exclude
commuters who drove to work on the day they request a ride.
Under this rule, for example, an ERH program would not provide a ride
to a commuter who drove alone to work and then experienced engine trouble.
Additional Criteria for Granting or Denying
Emergency Rides Home
ERH programs should have guidelines to specify when rides will be provided.
Here are the usual circumstances for which ERH programs grant rides to
commuters:
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Personal or family emergency. |
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Personal or family illness. |
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Unscheduled overtime. |
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Driver of a commuter’s carpool or vanpool
having to leave work unexpectedly. |
Here are circumstances under which ERH programs normally deny
a ride request:
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Pre-arranged appointments, such
as visits to the doctor or dentist. |
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Weather emergencies, earthquakes,
or other natural disasters. |
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Work-related travel, such as rides to the airport
or business meetings across town. |
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Rides to work. |
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Transit disruptions or delays. |
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Overtime that occurs regularly or is scheduled
in advance. |
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Transportation to a hospital or doctor’s
office following an on-the-job injury. Expenses associated with
these types of injuries and accidents are typically covered under
workers compensation insurance programs. |
Providing Rides
Emergency rides can take many forms. Most programs balance cost and convenience.
Programs may use one or multiple means of providing a ride, including:
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taxi cab, if the destination is
within 20 or 25 miles (or if the commuter is unable to drive or
does not have a driver’s license) |
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rental car |
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transit |
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company fleet vehicle |
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ride with a coworker |
Limiting Rides
Programs usually limit how often a commuter may receive an emergency ride
home. Many programs limit commuters to a fixed number of rides per year,
typically between 2 and 10. Some programs limit riders to a total dollar
amount spent on rides, such as $100 per year. Others do not impose usage
limits–they find that commuters rarely use the service more than
once per year. Your ERH program materials should describe the program’s
usage limits. Ideally, programs should also notify those riders who are
nearing their usage limits.
Resources on Establishing ERH Program Guidelines
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