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Rideshare Program

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Welcome to the WesternU Employee Rideshare Incentive Program!

Ridesharing is one of the strongest means in reducing smog emissions and improving the overall air quality in our communities. For this reason, Western University of Health Sciences encourages our employees to try out alternative methods of transportation to get to work!

Who is eligible to receive incentives through WesternU’s Rideshare Program?

– Regular full-time employees who use alternative means of transportation to get to work during “peak” commuting hours (Monday through Friday between 6:00am and 10:00am)

– Regular part-time employees who work at least 5 hours per week and use alternative means of transportation to get to work during “peak” commuting hours (Monday through Friday between 6:00am and 10:00am)

Who is ineligible to receive incentives through WesternU’s Rideshare Program?

– Temporary employees

– Student employees

 

WesternU’s Rideshare Program includes the following incentives for eligible employees:

WesternU offers two paid incentive programs: Bonus Pay and Public Transit Subsidy. Eligible employees may only participate in one WesternU-sponsored Rideshare incentive program per month.

All submissions for bonus pay and transit reimbursement are subject to verification and approval by WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources.

 

BONUS PAY

Reimbursement Guidelines: A bonus pay of $3.00 per day will be granted to eligible employees who use alternative means of transportation (as listed below) to get to work during weekday peak morning commuting hours. The bonus pay will be included in employee paychecks on a monthly basis, provided that the employee submits their report by the stated deadline. Employees are not eligible for the bonus pay on weekends or paid University holidays.

You will receive a monthly email requesting that you electronically report your commutes using the electronic Rideshare Form. If you carpool with other WesternU employees a Rideshare submission must be entered by each person to receive the bonus pay.

If you experience an error when attempting to submit the electronic Rideshare Form, you will need to submit a JPROD Service Request.

Carpool* & Vanpool

Eligible employees who carpool* with one or more people for at least half of their drive to work during peak morning commuting hours qualify for the bonus pay. Carpool partners may include other WesternU employees, employees at other institutions, and friends/family members (including children being dropped off at school, day care, etc.).

Employees who wish to carpool or vanpool to work together may agree upon one person in their group to purchase a parking permit through WesternU, then split the cost among the group as they choose. It is the permit holder’s responsibility to make financial arrangements with the other carpoolers. Up to three vehicles can be registered on one parking permit. Employees who share a parking permit must continue to submit monthly reimbursement forms through the Office of Human Resources to continue receiving the bonus pay incentive. Email parking@westernu.edu for questions regarding parking permits.

* Please note that private rides-for-hire such as taxis, Uber (including Uberpool), Lyft, etc. do not count as carpooling.

Bicycle & Walk

Eligible employees who bicycle or walk to work during peak morning commuting hours qualify for the bonus pay.

EV (Electric Vehicle) & PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

Eligible employees who drive a PHEV to work during peak morning commuting hours qualify for the bonus pay, provided that their entire commute from home to work is made solely on electric power, without any use of a gasoline engine or cogeneration system. Hybrid vehicle drivers should check the vehicle manufacturer’s stated full-charge electric range to make sure this applies to their vehicle.

Motorcycle

Eligible employees who drive a motorcycle during peak morning commuting hours must be riding with one other person for at least half of their drive to work to qualify for the bonus pay. Single riders are not eligible for bonus pay.

 

PUBLIC TRANSIT SUBSIDY

Reimbursement Guidelines: Eligible employees will be reimbursed a maximum of $120.00 per month for their public transit passes that were purchased to commute to work during weekday peak morning commuting hours. Original public transportation receipts noting the employee’s name should be submitted electronically to the Office of Human Resources at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu for reimbursement.

 

RIDESHARE RECOGNITION

Employees that participate in WesternU’s Rideshare Program for each of the three consecutive months in a quarter will receive a $5 gift card* to the University Bookstore.

Other prizes will be gifted periodically in recognition of employees who regularly use alternative means of transportation to get to work. Prizes may include gift certificates, movie tickets, electronics, etc.*

*Some prizes will be subject to applicable taxation on the employee’s following paycheck. Talk to your income tax advisor or WesternU’s payroll department for more information.

 

RIDE GUIDES

Personalized Ride Guides can (1.) match potential Rideshare partners based on home proximity and work start and end times and/or (2.) provide a route between your home and work via public transportation. Employees can obtain ride guides can by:

  1. Emailing RideshareOHR@westernu.edu – The Employee Transportation Coordinator will conduct a search via email for other WesternU employees in your area who can potentially carpool to work with you.
  2. Creating a profile at Ridematch.info – This website matches commuters based on proximity and work start/end times. You can be matched with other WesternU students and employees or individuals who are not employed with WesternU; filter your results however you’d prefer. All WesternU employees, including those that are ineligible for Rideshare incentives, are encouraged to use this site to find Rideshare partners!
  3. Getting a guide from LA Metro and/or IE Commuter – These regional transit agencies offer free personalized public transit ride guides based on your location. IE Commuter also has a ride matching service to connect you with potential carpool partners when you sign up for their rewards program. Visit LA Metro’s online trip planner and IE Commuter’s rideshare rewards site to take advantage of these free services.

The following free Rideshare incentives are offered through local transit agencies to eligible employees at WesternU’s Pomona campus:

Because local rideshare benefits are not connected to WesternU, eligible employees may participate in a local incentive program as well as a WesternU-sponsored incentive program.

All submissions for local rideshare benefits are subject to verification and approval by the local transit agency and/or WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator.

 

IE COMMUTER REWARDS PROGRAM

In addition to the $2/day start-up incentive and local merchant discounts, IE Commuter has a monthly drawing for their Rideshare Program Spotlight. Winners can take home a monthly prize valued up to $100 and a chance to share their Ridesharing story! To be included in the monthly drawings, eligible employees located in San Bernardino and Western Riverside County must log eight roundtrip rideshares in their commute diary per month. Each trip counts as a sweepstakes entry. Remember: All you have to do to take advantage of all three of IE Commuter’s incentives is sign up and regularly log your weekday rideshare trips!

 

$2/DAY START-UP INCENTIVE

Courtesy of IE Commuter, eligible employees located in San Bernardino and Western Riverside County that are interested in trying out ridesharing for the first time (i.e. carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus or train, biking, walking, telecommuting) may be eligible to receive $2/day in gift card incentives for every day that they rideshare in the first three months! To qualify, participants must:

  • Be brand new to ridesharing
  • Have been driving alone at least 90 days prior to their rideshare arrangement start date
  • Log a minimum of five roundtrip rideshares in their commute diary for three consecutive months

Eligible employees interested in switching their commute to ridesharing can sign up for IE Commuter’s rewards program and start logging their rideshares:

 

LOCAL MERCHANT DISCOUNTS

Courtesy of IE Commuter, eligible employees located in San Bernardino and Western Riverside County who have logged at least five rideshares to work per month for the last three or more consecutive months may be eligible for a free Rideshare Plus membership. The membership provides digital access to discounts at more than 135,000 local and national merchants! Eligible employees can sign up online for IE commuter’s Rideshare Plus program and start logging their rideshares:

 

METRO REWARDS PROGRAM

Courtesy of LA Metro, eligible employees located in LA County can win gift cards and Metro passes in monthly drawings for reporting their rideshare trips to work! There is no minimum amount to qualify; the more you rideshare the more chances you have to win prizes! Create a profile at ridematch.info, then log your rideshare trips using the Commute Calendar to participate.

 

FREE METRO TO WORK

Courtesy of LA Metro, newly hired eligible employees located in LA County can apply for a free 7-day Metro pass and transit information! Email the Employee Transportation Coordinator at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu to request an application.

 

GUARANTEED RIDE HOME

Worried about carpooling to work and losing your ride home? WesternU partners with the regional Guaranteed Ride Home Program (GRH), which benefits ridesharing employees who have lost their ride home due to an unforeseen emergency during normal working hours. Emergency circumstances that qualify for a ride under the GRH Program include:

  • Personal illness/emergency
  • Unexpected illness/emergency of an immediate family member
  • Your carpool/vanpool driver has an emergency or unexpected overtime
  • Your supervisor requires you to work unexpected overtime

IE Commuter and LA Metro reimburse emergency rides home via Lyft. If you find yourself stranded without a ride home from work, contact WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator* at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu or University ext. 3751. The ETC will handle the logistics and payment; just sit back, relax, and be assured that your Lyft driver will get you home safely!

*As a courtesy, the Office of Human Resources asks that you give at least 30 minutes-1 hour of notice when requesting a guaranteed ride home.
Reimbursement amount and usage limits apply, as determined by the regional Guaranteed Ride Home Program handbook. Contact the Employee Transportation Coordinator for details.

 

Other questions?

Contact WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu or campus extension 3751.