Category: Ridesharing

REI,
Kent

• CEO*: Wally Smith, President and CEO
• ETC: Joyce Chandler, Human Resources Administrative Assistant

Employees are advocates of commute trip reduction

In 1938, a group of 23 Pacific Northwest mountaineers formed a consumer cooperative to ensure quality climbing equipment for its members. Sixty years later, Recreational Equipment, Inc., or REI as it is commonly known, issued its five millionth membership. The national retailer of outdoor gear and clothing has its headquarters in Kent, where employees are advocates for commute trip reduction.

President and CEO Wally Smith and Administrative Assistant Joyce Chandler pose with REI's Diamond Award and Kent Commute Trip Reduction Coordinator Cathy Mooney, who was on hand to congratulate them.

For several years, REI had only one vanpool group, which traveled daily from West Seattle to Kent. But in early 1998, Joyce Chandler, Employee Transportation Coordinator, determined there was more potential for ridesharing at the site. In order to encourage vanpooling, REI, the City of Kent, and King County Metro formed a partnership to fund a $35 per month vanpool subsidy.

Metro was invited to come on site to further help promote vanpools. The new vanpool program is a natural fit for a company made up of employees who are environmentally conscientious and enjoy the outdoors. Employees responded with great enthusiasm, forming four vanpool groups the first day. Word spread among employees about the fun side of ridesharing (e.g. REI has a close-knit culture, and some REI vanpoolers gather for barbecues and to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries).

Vanpools are the mode of choice

This team effort paid off. To date there are nine vanpools full of REI commuters coming from all directions. In addition, some REI employees ride in vans with employees from nearby companies. Since all of the Metro vans are equipped with bicycle racks, one REI employee is able to ride in a van to the Boeing Space Center, then bicycle the rest of the way to work.

REI's generous commuting program also subsidizes transit and ferry riders by reimbursing 25% of the cost. There is an on-site cafeteria and guaranteed ride home for emergencies, which makes having your own car at work unnecessary.

Carpools and bicycling are the next areas Chandler wants to emphasize and grow. Covered bicycle storage and showers are in place, and many employees already participate. One bicyclist travels 54 miles round-trip twice a week!

*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.