The CommuteInfo program’s Emergency Ride Home service is currently available to those commuters registered with the CommuteInfo program who are participants in a registered carpool, vanpool, Bike Now or are an eligible transit rider*.
Eligibility by Employment Status
- Full Time & Part Time Employees
- Full Time & Part Time Students
- Volunteers
Eligibility by Mode
- Registered CommuteInfo Bike Now Commuters
- Registered CommuteInfo Carpool Participants
- Registered CommuteInfo Vanpool Participants
- Registered Transit Riders (eligibility determined by each transit operator, as specified below):
- Beaver County Transit Authority riders must have an All-Day Pass, BCTA 10+1 Trip Ticket, BCTA 7-Day Pass or BCTA 31- Day Pass.
- Butler Transit Authority riders must be a current Adult or Student 30-day unlimited pass holder, 15 trip commuter pass, or 31 trip commuter pass.
- Fayette Area Coordinated Transit riders must be a current multi-trip pass holder (10 or 50 trip pass).
- Freedom Transit riders must be a 10-trip, 31-trip, or monthly pass for zone 1-3 or zone 2-3.
- Indiana County Transit Authority riders who are: IUP I-card holders who have preregistered with IndiGO as transit riders, Wyotech Riders who preregister with IndiGO as transit riders, Valid EZ rider pass holders, valid fixed route/Go anywhere pass holders, or valid ticket holders.
- New Castle Area Transit Authority riders must travel to Boyers or downtown Pittsburgh.
- Westmoreland County Transit Authority riders who are 10 trip or monthly pass holders.
Eligibility by Usage of Non-Single Occupant Vehicle Mode
Must be registered with the CommuteInfo program, ridesharing at least twice a week and on the day the emergency ride is requested. To register, you can either complete a Commuter Profile online or call our toll-free phone number: 1-888-819-6110.
Eligibility by Trip Purposes
- From work to home
- From work to hospital/doctor’s office
- From work to school or daycare (i.e., pickup sick child)
- 1 stop allowed (i.e., from work to doctor’s office to home)
Reasons for Use
- Unscheduled overtime or late meeting (i.e., no advance warning)
- Sickness or accident of immediate family member (child, spouse, parent)
- Breakdown or accident of carpool vehicle on way home from work (i.e., not a vehicle that was planned to be in the shop for several days)
- Carpool partner or vanpool driver had to unexpectedly leave work early (i.e., sickness)
Modes Used to Provide Service
A variety of modes may be utilized depending on the location and circumstances.
- Taxi
- Rental car
- Transit
Program Requirements
- Commuter must be preregistered with the CommuteInfo ERH service and must agree to the terms of service in order to receive a ride. To register or to receive a copy of the terms of service, contact the CommuteInfo staff by email or by calling 1-888-819-6110.
- Each registered commuter can be reimbursed for a total of 4 ERH each calendar year or a cumulative total of $100 worth of ERH trips, even if the number of trips is less than 4.
- Depending on the nature of the emergency, and home and work locations, a commuter using the ERH service may use a taxi, car rental, transit, or any combination of these services to reach their destination point. The CommuteInfo program will pay for one vendor service and/or one transit service per request. The commuter must submit their ERH refund application and receipt to the CommuteInfo office within 30 days of the ERH trip. Please allow 45 days from receipt for review and reimbursement.
- If the ERH trip is made by rental car, the commuter is responsible for signing a standard rental agreement, showing a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, providing a credit card number for collateral, returning the rental car within a 24-hour period, and the following charges: gasoline refueling charges, taxes, purchase of insurance (if necessary), additional rental charges if auto is not returned within a 24-hour period (unless the CommuteInfo program staff has given prior approval for additional rental time). The commuter will be responsible for any loss or damage to the rental car.
ERH is a free service provided by the CommuteInfo program. CommuteInfo program staff will use their best efforts to administer the Emergency Ride Home service in accordance with the guidelines shown above. By requesting assistance from the Emergency Ride Home service, the participant in the program explicitly acknowledges that the CommuteInfo program assumes no liability for the timeliness of the ERH participating vendor(s) or any accidents that may occur on the conveyance.
Advance Emergency Planning
Remember to learn about CommuteInfo’s Emergency Ride Home service before the need arises. Familiarize yourself with the acceptable conditions for which you can receive reimbursement for an Emergency Ride Home. And keep in mind:
- The ERH service cannot be used for working late without a supervisor’s request, weather emergencies, any type of building closings or evacuations or acts of God.
- The ERH program is for unexpected emergencies and unexpected overtime only. ERH may not be used for personal errands, previously scheduled appointments or business-related travel.
Also, it is recommended that you identify one or several possible ERH providers for your commute in advance, and keep their contact info in a convenient location, such as your wallet or purse.
*Transit riders should check with their transit operators to see if they participate in the Emergency Ride Home benefit.