Emergency Ride Home (ERH)
Have you considered commuting by foot, bike, bus, car or vanpool, but worried about what you would do if an emergency arose and you needed to leave work quickly to get home, to a child’s school, a hospital or a partner or spouses worksite, etc.?
The City’s Transportation Options program and Cascades West Rideshare have your solution. Any registered user of www.GetThereOregon.org who has utilized a transportation option to get to work on the day an emergency arises is now eligible for an Emergency Ride Home (ERH).
What is Get There?
www.GetThereOregon.org (previously Drive Less Connect) is a free, secure site that helps Oregonians find a carpool, vanpool or bike buddy, share rides, plan and track any trips you make by bus, bike, teleworking, carpool, vanpool or walking (for work or play!). Update your account if you were previously a Drive Less Connect member or register to be eligible to win awesome prizes such as gift cards to local restaurants and coffee shops, just for getting around without driving alone! It’s free, easy and secure.
To be eligible for ERH, you must:
• Be a member of Get There (join free at www.GetThereOregon.org).
• Work in Benton, Linn or Lincoln County.
• Enroll in the ERH program, http://www.ocwcog.org/transportation/cascades-west-rideshare/erh/, and
• Have commuted by bike, bus, carpool, vanpool, or walking on the day you need to use ERH.
Where will ERH take me?
Qualifying trips include to your home; to a transit stop; to a medical facility; to the location where your vehicle is parked (for example, a park-and-ride lot); or for qualifying side-trips such as picking up an ill child at school. All locations must be documented on the ERH voucher and the total reimbursement amount is up to $50. You also can use ERH if you have unscheduled overtime (supervisor’s approval required) or your carpool/vanpool driver has an emergency and leaves early.
What trips are not covered by the ERH Program?
You cannot use ERH for a ride to work, personal errands, business travel, appointments, non-emergency side trips, scheduled overtime, or working late without a supervisor’s approval. You also cannot use ERH because of inclement weather, if you were late for your carpool/vanpool/bus, or because of personal vehicle or bike failure.
What happens when I need an ERH?
When you need to use ERH, contact Katie Trebes at ridemanager@ocwcog.org or call 541-812-2004 for approval and to access voucher for reimbursement. You can use a total of 2 vouchers per year.
Sign up today! All the details are at: http://www.ocwcog.org/transportation/cascades-west-rideshare/erh/.
If you have questions, contact Josh Capps at 541-754-1730 or call Cascades West Rideshare at 541-812-2004.
