California County Now Offers Ride Insurance to Car-Free Commuters
Transit and bike commuters in many cities are able to rush home quickly if an emergency strikes -- but for commuters looking to give up their cars in less dense areas, an emergency often means a pricey cab ride. One California county that falls in the latter camp, Santa Cruz, has come up with a unique solution: "ride insurance."
(Photo: Portland Ground)Ecology Action, a local non-profit, has begun offering a program that guarantees taxi transport for non-car-owning commuters who experience a family emergency, a personal crisis, or the premature departure of an office carpool.
The service costs $24 per year and has a cap of four rides annually, or $100. Ecology Action, which also helps local businesses collaborate on shared ride insurance for transit- or bike-riding commuters, sees potential in the new product. From today's San Jose Mercury News:
Coordinatorsexpect the insurance program to resonate with those who fear leavingthe car behind in the event they need to pick up a child unexpectedlyor deal with an unforeseen emergency.
"It's a little more incentive not to drive," Bustos said. ...
"This is a newconcept, absolutely," said Tegan Speiser, a senior transportationplanner for the Regional Transportation Commission, a partner in theRideSurance program.
Speiser said such individual ride insuranceplans could come to play an equally viable role in commuting life asroadside assistance plans, like AAA.
The program is now funded by grant money from the area's air pollution control district, though its goals would make it a good match for green transportation benefits under consideration for inclusion in the Senate climate change bill.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Tuesday’s Headlines Fix It First
How voters incentivize politicians to ignore infrastructure upkeep. Plus, are hydrogen trains the future of rail or a shiny distraction?
The Brake: Why We Can’t End Violence on Transit With More Police
Are more cops the answer to violence against transit workers, or is it only driving societal tensions that make attacks more frequent?
Justice Dept., Citing Streetsblog Reporting, Threatens to Sue NYPD Over Cops’ Sidewalk Parking
The city is now facing a major civil rights suit from the Biden Administration if it doesn't eliminate illegal parking by cops and other city workers.
Five Car Culture Euphemisms We Need To Stop Using
How does everyday language hide the real impact of building a world that functionally requires everyone to drive?
