Rideshare Week October 3 – 7, 2011

i make a difference. i take the challenge. iCommute.

Rideshare Week is a nationally recognized event held annually the first week in October to promote commute alternatives to driving alone. Commuters are encouraged to make a difference and join other commuters and companies nationwide as they replace their solo drive with a new, more sustainable commute.

For Rideshare 2011, San Diegans were asked to take the challenge all month long. During the October Commuter Challenge, those commuters who pledged to make a difference, and logged their trips in TripTracker, were automatically entered into daily or weekly prize drawings. Fifty lucky winners won prizes ranging from restaurant gift cards and Chargers tickets to spa packages and electric bikes.

The Rideshare 2011 Corporate Challenge saw a record number of San Diego companies participate. These companies and organizations encouraged employees to replace their solo commute with a more sustainable commute choice such as carpooling, biking, walking, vanpooling, using public transit, or teleworking. Of the 38 companies, the following had the most alternative trips logged in their size category:

San Diego Coastkeeper
Best Micro Company (1–25 employees)
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Best Small Company (26–150 employees)
URS Corporation
Best Medium Company (151–750 employees)
Caltrans, District 11
Best Large Company (751–1,500 employees)
The Scripps Research Institute
Best Macro Company (1,501–5,000 employees)
Sharp HealthCare
Best Mega Company (5,001+ employees)

The Rideshare 2011 Corporate and Commuter Challenges generated significant environmental benefits. Nearly 66,000 alternative commute trips were taken, resulting in 1.5 million vehicle miles not traveled. That translated into 67,066 gallons of gasoline saved; 1.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions reduced; and $910,657 in fuel and vehicle maintenance costs saved.

Congratulations to all the Corporate Challenge participants for helping make Rideshare 2011 a success.

New to ridesharing? We have all the tools you need to get started:

• RideMatcher is a simple and secure way to find carpool or vanpool partners, or a bike or walk buddy.
• Determine your environmental and cost savings with the Commute Cost Calculator.
• Use the 511 Transit Trip Planner to find what Trolley, bus, or train is right for you.
• Never be stranded with Guaranteed Ride Home. If you carpool, vanpool, take the COASTER, ride an Express Bus, walk, or bike to work three or more times a week, you have a built-in safety net when there is an emergency.

Rideshare 2011 couldn’t happen without the help of many great sponsors. Please show them your support.

The iCommute Employer Program provides free assistance and tools to companies and organizations in the San Diego region to design and implement commuter programs that meet their financial and environmental goals. Get started today by contacting a SANDAG employer representative. Call 511 and say "iCommute" or e-mail iCommute@sandag.org.

How to Use the Online iCommute Program

See the official Corporate Challenge Contest Rules or Commuter Challenge Contest Rules