2002
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Category: Ridesharing World Vision,
Inc.,
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Listen to one of the radio spots featuring this winner! |
Beating the odds in suburbia
Many
employers in suburban locations throughout King County find it difficult
to promote ridesharing because of plentiful free parking and little or
no easily accessible transit routes nearby. World Vision in Federal Way
is one such organization that has beaten the odds and earned a 2002 Commuter
Challenge Diamond Award for ridesharing.
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Jan. 22, 2003 Awards Ceremony
Accepting World Vision's Diamond Award for Ridesharing are Employee Transportation Coordinator Cynthia Cronkhite, CTR Program Manager Vicki Hulse, and Senior Division Director of Corporate Services Desmond Capper. |
World Vision’s commute trip reduction program is a good example of what can be done with vanpools and carpools in a suburban setting with very little transit service. Some employees have wanted to ride the bus in the past but were unable to because there were no stops within walking distance. The organization found that carpooling was a good solution, allowing employees to use an alternative commute mode when transit was not an option.
The organization provides a 50% subsidy to employees who vanpool or ride the bus. Showers and lockers are available to those who bicycle or walk to work, and all employees who use alternative commute modes have access to the Guaranteed Ride Home program so they can quickly and easily get home in case of an emergency. Monthly drawings for Commuter Bonus Plus Vouchers are also held to further reward those employees who rideshare, bicycle or walk to work.
A commuter center located in the lunchroom keeps employees informed of all their commute options. Employees also have access to information on the rideshare program through World Vision’s intranet site which includes a transportation page. Forms to sign up for carpools and drawings are available here as well as links to RideshareOnline.com and other transit agencies. The transportation coordinator also provides zip code matching each month for those employees looking for carpool partners.
New employees are provided with a complete packet of information explaining the ridesharing programs available at World Vision as well as an application to sign up as a carpooler. “People are told about our program from the time they are first hired. Many are glad the rideshare options are offered and take advantage of them soon after they start working,” said Employee Transportation Coordinator Cynthia Cronkhite. “The employees are glad to receive subsidies for their bus and vanpool costs, and it is always exciting to them to be chosen as a winner in the monthly drawings.”
The management of World Vision understands the importance of alternative commute options. The rideshare program not only provides important benefits to employees, it also gives the organization an opportunity to show their environmental stewardship. Management further supports the program by participating with other employers in networking events all with the intent to further develop World Vision’s commute trip reduction program.
Commute Program
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*Some definitions: An “ETC” is the staff-level employee transportation coordinator responsible for the daily administration of the transportation program; “PM” is the transportation program manager; and “CEO” refers to the top management-level person at the worksite. “SOV” stands for single-occupant vehicle, and “CTR” for commute trip reduction.