Q1. How do I qualify and register for the program?
Answer: If County employees carpool, walk, bike, or take public transportation to work five (5) times in the same calendar month, then they qualify! To be eligible, an employee must register in advance by completing a Commute Mode Registration form and submitting it to our office via scan/email (icommute@rivco.org) to receive RideShare incentives. Commuter Services will send an email confirming the employee’s active participation in the current calendar year with detailed instructions. Registered participants will also receive a post-registration packet containing RideShare incentive information!
Q2. I only live a mile from work, I don't think I qualify.
Answer: Why not walk or bike to work a couple of days a week? Walking and biking to work are greatly encouraged and registered participants are eligible for the RideShare Program! At some worksite’s, walkers and bicyclists may take advantage of bicycle racks, personal lockers, and showers! Plus, walking and/or biking to and from work even for just one day a week saves gasoline, helps the environment, and you exercise.
Q3. What kind of incentives do you offer registered participants?
Answer: Qualifying registered participants are eligible for many incentives! Incentives include the initial $5/Day for all first-time registrants, monthly drawings, preferred parking, and participation in the Guaranteed Ride Home Program! However, interested employees must first complete a Commute Mode Registration form and submit to our office via scan/email (icommute@rivco.org) to receive these incentives.
Q4. How often do I have to RideShare to qualify for incentives?
Answer: Commuter Services requires a minimum commitment of five (5) workdays a month to qualify for the RideShare Program. However, the more you RideShare, the more you save!
Q5. What is this $5/Day incentive I keep hearing about?
Answer: The $5/Day incentive is an incentive Commuter Services offers for all first-time registered participants. This incentive is available to employees who currently drive alone to work, have not been in a RideShare arrangement for the past 90 days, and have not received this incentive from the County of Riverside in the past.
Q6. I do not live in Riverside County, do I qualify for program incentives?
Answer: Yes, all registered participants qualify for Commuter Services incentives.
Q7. I registered with Commuter Services in the past. Why did my incentives stop?
Answer: All registered Commuter Services participants are required to renew their participation on an annual basis. Renewal notifications are emailed in December to active current calendar year participants. Renewal request forms are required to be completed and return on or before the requested deadline. If Commuter Services does not receive a completed renewal form, we assume an employee is no longer interested and the employee is inactivated from our program for the upcoming year. To remain in active status and continue receiving program incentives, renewing plays an important part, therefore, if you do not receive a renewal form in December, contact us as soon as possible!
Q8. What if I need to leave work quickly due to an emergency and I don't have my vehicle at work? Or if I drove, how will my carpool partner(s) get home?
Answer: In the event of a personal emergency or you are unexpectedly requested to work overtime past your regularly scheduled shift, County of Riverside Commuter Services provides you with a guaranteed ride home as an active registered participant. A personal emergency includes the participant going home sick or needing to tend to a sick family member, an emergency arising at home, or if the participant’s carpool partner must leave during the day, leaving the participant at work. Please make note that the GRH Program cannot be used for transit service disruptions and/or delays, weather-related events, a ride to work, personal errands, previously scheduled personal appointments, attending to County business or trainings. These events DO NOT constitute an emergency to obtain a Guaranteed Ride Home.
Guaranteed Ride Home Program, “business hours” are defined as the hours of operation of Commuter Services, which are 7:00am to 4:30pm. A participant that requires a ride home during regular business hours will be accommodated through Fleet Services, unless the participants worksite is not located near a County Fleet Services facility. If the participant requires a taxi ride home, the Guaranteed Ride Home Program voucher should be used by the employee.
NOTE: Guaranteed ride must originate from your work location and may only be used to get home or to the location of your parked vehicle (e.g., a Park & Ride lot or a carpool partner’s home). Registered Participants are required to refer to their Guaranteed Ride Home Voucher for instructions. It is the Registered Participants responsibility to contact the nearest contracted taxi company directly to obtain a Guaranteed Ride Home. In the event a County of Riverside Fleet yard is near the registered RideShare participant worksite during business hours, the registered RideShare participant will contact Commuter Services to coordinate the use of a RideShare loaner at one of the County Fleet yards.
Q9. I left early last week to pick up my ill child and today I am sick. Can I utilize another GRH today?
Answer: Per Board policy, Commuter Services offers the Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Program to registered RideShare employees in the event of a personal emergency or unexpected overtime. A registered participant may use the Guaranteed Ride Home Program up to six (6) times per year, typically not to exceed one use within a 30-day period.
(Qualifying guaranteed ride home from work occurrence: you have a personal emergency, or you are unexpectedly requested to work overtime past your regularly scheduled shift, County of Riverside Commuter Services provides you with a guaranteed ride home as an active registered participant. A personal emergency includes the participant going home sick or needing to tend to a sick family member, an emergency arising at home, or if the participant’s carpool partner must leave during the day, leaving the participant at work. Please make note that the GRH Program cannot be used for transit service disruptions and/or delays, weather-related events, a ride to work, personal errands, previously scheduled personal appointments, attending to County business or trainings. These events DO NOT constitute an emergency to obtain a Guaranteed Ride Home.)
Q10. I was just informed I need to work overtime, but I carpooled today. Does my request for a GRH count against one (1) of my six (6) I am eligible for?
Answer: Yes, per Board policy, Commuter Services offers the Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Program to registered RideShare employees in the event of a personal emergency or unexpected overtime. A registered participant may use the Guaranteed Ride Home Program up to six (6) times per year, typically not to exceed one use within a 30-day period. This means that you are eligible to utilize a GRH today and have five (5) remaining GRH for the calendar year.
(Qualifying guaranteed ride home from work occurrence: you have a personal emergency, or you are unexpectedly requested to work overtime past your regularly scheduled shift, County of Riverside Commuter Services provides you with a guaranteed ride home as an active registered participant. A personal emergency includes the participant going home sick or needing to tend to a sick family member, an emergency arising at home, or if the participant’s carpool partner must leave during the day, leaving the participant at work. Please make note that the GRH Program cannot be used for transit service disruptions and/or delays, weather-related events, a ride to work, personal errands, previously scheduled personal appointments, attending to County business or trainings. These events DO NOT constitute an emergency to obtain a Guaranteed Ride Home.)
Q11. What is considered a carpool group for Commuter Services?
Answer: A carpool group is defined as two (2) or more working adults commuting to work in the same vehicle in order to save costs, reduce pollution.
Q12. I would like to RideShare, but I don't have a carpool partner. What do I do?
Answer: Riverside County Commuter Services can assist in locating other participants living and working in your surrounding area! Interested employees may request a RideMatch list, by completing a RideMatch Request Formand submitting it to our office via scan/email (icommute@rivco.org). A generated RideMatch list of interested RideShare participants will be provided to the requesting employee. The generated RideMatch list will also assist in locating an established County Vehicle (CV) group commuting to their work location! Please note that it is the requesting employee’s responsibility to contact participants directly, if they desire to participate in a RideShare arrangement. Participation is voluntary.
Q13. I've been carpooling with a coworker for years, but we never registered with Commuter Services. How do we go about registering?
Answer: It's easy to register with Commuter Services! All you and your carpool partner(s) must do is to complete a Commute Mode Registration Form and submit it to our office via scan/email (icommute@rivco.org), and we will register the two (or more!) in our program. Commuter Services will send an email confirming the employee’s active participation in the current calendar year with detailed instructions. Registered participants will also receive a post-registration packet containing RideShare incentive information!
Q14. I carpool with my neighbor, but they do not work for the County of Riverside. Do I still qualify?
Answer: Yes! You may register as a carpool participant with a Non-County employee and receive Commuter Services incentives. Simply complete a Commute Mode Registration Form, select the option titled Carpool with Non-County Employee, provide your carpool partner's name and employer information. Then submit your completed form to our office by scan/email (icommute@rivco.org). Commuter Services will send an email confirming your active participation in the current calendar year with detailed instructions. You will also receive a post-registration packet containing RideShare incentive information! It's that simple!
Q15. I carpool with my children/dependents. Does this mean I qualify for the RideShare program?
Answer: No. Carpooling with your children/dependents is only applicable to the annual Commuter Transportation Survey. However, all working adults whether a County employee or not, are eligible carpool partners for the purpose of the RideShare program and incentives.
Q16. What if I forget to transfer our issued carpool parking permit into our commuter car?
Answer: In the event you forget your carpool parking permit, do not park in a reserved carpool parking space. Only registered vehicles clearly displaying the current year carpool parking permit are permitted to park in the reserved carpool parking spaces. Vehicles parked in the reserved carpool parking spaces without properly displaying a permit will be subject to a parking citation. You and your carpool partner(s) will be responsible for paying any parking citations issued.
Q17. My carpool partner and I alternate driving. Can we each get a carpool parking permit?
Answer: No, only one carpool parking permit is issued for a carpool group consisting of two (2) registered individuals. However, a maximum of two (2) parking permits will be issued for a carpool group of four (4) or more registered individuals.
Q18. My carpool partner and I carpool every day. Can we get a parking permit to park in the reserved carpool parking spaces at our worksite?
Answer: Yes, Commuter Services will issue a carpool parking permit to registered participants, if reserved spaces are available at their worksite. The carpool parking permit will allow employees to park in any County reserved carpool parking space. Please keep in mind that participating groups must renew each year to obtain an upcoming year parking permit.
Q19. What is a County Vehicle (CV) Program?
Answer: The County Vehicle (CV) Commuter Program is an employee-funded program where a group of at least four (4) or more employees share the usage and cost of a County vehicle. The fee per person is charged semi-monthly and taken through payroll deductions.
Q20. What does the County Vehicle (CV) monthly fee cover?
Answer: The County Vehicle (CV) monthly fee per person is billed on a bi-weekly basis, which includes a guaranteed seat, routine service repair and maintenance, fuel, a loaner/rental vehicle while the County Vehicle (CV) is being serviced. Additionally, the program offers a Guaranteed Ride Home option, if needed.
Q21. I want to see if there is a County Vehicle (CV) group with my schedule. How do I do that?
Answer: There are several County Vehicles (CV) groups in the County Vehicle (CV) Program that accommodate many routes and schedules. By completing a RideMatch Request Form, we will check if there is an established County Vehicle (CV) group that fits your schedule.
Q22. Can I take a test ride in an established County Vehicle (CV) group?
Answer: Absolutely! Commuter Services offers three (3) free days of ridership with our County Vehicle (CV) Commuter Program. The free days of ridership are coordinated with the specific County Vehicle (CV) Captain and offered so that you may see if the program is a good fit for your commute. If you decide to move forward and register with an existing County Vehicle (CV) group, we will be more than happy to send you registration information.
Q23. Does the County Vehicle (CV) Program work with a Group Agreement and Schedule?
Answer: Yes, the purpose of the Group Agreement and Schedule is to outline group information (i.e., group participants, where the vehicle is housed overnight, Captain information, etc.) and important pick-up times and location details that the group agrees to adhere to. If an issue arises within a group due to late arrivals, etc., the Group Agreement and Schedule is used by Commuter Services to enforce the agreed upon times and pick up/drop off locations.
Q24. I'm in a vanpool program. Why don't I have the benefit of paying for my seat on a pre-tax basis?
Answer: With so many County-wide worksites and various schedules and work hours, the County offers the County Vehicle (CV) Program as opposed to a specific "vanpool program" as outlined in the IRS Publication 15B. Smaller vehicles in our County Vehicle (CV) Fleet pool do not fit within the "vanpool" requirements.