Options in Ridesharing

There are a number of options for those interested in sharing a ride.

There’s Smart Trips own ridematching database which allows Knoxville area commuters to quickly and easily find carpoolers headed in their same direction at about the same time. It’s easy to register and find a carpool partner on our website: http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/carpool.htm.

There are other online services that offer similar functions for other regions of the country or for certain segments of the population, for example Zimride (http://www.zimride.com/) which caters to college students.

Several new websites – CabCorner.com, Hitchsters.com, CabEasy.com, SplitACab.com and RideAmigos.com – offer the opportunity for sharing the cost of a cab ride. Primarily aimed at larger cities, the sites can be useful for those taking business or pleasure trips to more populated areas.

There’s also the concept of car-sharing, where vehicles are owned by an entity or community and made available to be shared for use for a fee. Companies such Zip Car (http://www.zipcar.com/) and Connect by Hertz (http://www.connectbyhertz.com/) operate car-sharing programs in cities across the U.S. Plans are underway to bring car-sharing to Knoxville.

All these options make for reduced emissions, cleaner air and less traffic congestion which are goals for the Smart Trips program as well. For more information about Smart Trips, check out our website: http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/.

The Ins and Outs of Commuter Rewards

With the start of a new year, we thought it would be a good time to review the details of Smart Trips Commuter Rewards program.

Smart Trips participants who bicycle, carpool, take transit, vanpool, walk to work or work from home and log these efforts for 30 days (that’s 60 one-way trips) each quarter are eligible for Commuter Rewards. Quarters run January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December each year.

Early in the months of April, July, October and January, Smart Trips participants should receive an email reminding them to log their commutes by a specific date to be eligible for Commuter Rewards prizes, including $50 monthly and $100 quarterly gift cards to local vendors.

Those who meet the logging requirements each quarter - by the deadline - will then receive a second email directing them to make their choice of a $10 gift card from amongst Bliss, Café 4, Mast General Store, Panera Bread, Regal Cinemas, Three Rivers Market or Tomato Head by completing a very short survey in Survey Monkey.

Gift cards are not automatically sent, even to those who qualify. Participants must choose which card they want before one will be purchased for them and mailed out. We strive to accomplish this by the end of the month following a quarter.

For more information about Smart Trips Commuter Rewards program, check out our website: http://www.knoxsmarttrips.org/rewards.htm.