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Announcing New Commuter Benefit Solutions Integration

RideAmigos and Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions are teaming up

The RideAmigos team has exciting news: we’re adding new platform integrations with Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions, and we couldn’t be more excited about the ways this will benefit our partners.

Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions is the nation’s only comprehensive commuter benefit solutions provider and number one resource for commuter savings. Since 1985,Edenred has served Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, top third party benefit administrators and the nation’s largest metropolitan area transit authorities.

With its premier solution offerings; Commuter Check, a nationwide commuter benefits program for employers; and WiredCommute, a private label program for third party administrators, Edenred is able to provide a one-stop total solution experience.Edenred’s mission is to make tax-free commuter benefits a staple in employee benefits packages nationwide.

Here’s a snapshot of some key Commuter Benefit Solutions numbers:

  • The company serves more than 12,000 employers representing over 1.9 million
    employees, including many Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies.
  • The company also maintains partnerships with over 50 national third-party
    administrators, more than 350 transit agencies, hundreds of bike shops, and over
    5,000 parking locations.

Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions has a strong core focus on managing and delivering both employer and employee-based commuter pre-tax benefits programs. These programs help enterprises generate savings of up to 7.65% per year on their payroll taxes while helping employees generate huge savings on their taxable incomes. They provide extensive support, including dedicated account managers, nationwide coverage, convenient product delivery, and a complete suite of support services.

RideAmigos is proud to be creating connections between Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions products and our industry-leading commuter management software. Our partnership will give the businesses and organizations that use our platform easy access to one of the world’s most powerful commuter benefit management programs. The goal is to make generating, tracking, and maximizing both employer- and employee-based tax savings as convenient and profitable as possible.

To learn more, check out the recent Coffee Talk webinar we held with Commuter Benefit Solutions to discuss their product and our plans, or contact us directly.

Rideshare and Transit Integration

Rideshare and transit integration solves problems associated with single-occupancy vehicle commuting

The negative impacts of commuting in a single-occupancy vehicle extend beyond the environment. Sitting in traffic creates what’s known as an “opportunity cost.” People can’t engage in productive activities when they’re inching their vehicle along a street or freeway.

As such, stakeholders in enterprise-oriented commuter management programs have strong incentives to promote alternatives like rideshare and transit integration. Research shows that such programs support improved productivity as well as increased commuter happiness and overall life satisfaction.
To help give your commuter program a kick-start, here are a few ways you can integrate ridesharing, public transit, and other alternatives into your company’s commuter management plan:

  • Create a multimodal commuting challenge. Build excitement and increase commuter participation by incentivizing your commuting program with a challenge that includes ridesharing, transit, and other smart commute options. Log trips, track miles, and offer prizes to the individuals or teams who lead the pack.
  • Provide smart transportation from origin and destination transit stations. In addition to running vanpool shuttle services between your company and local mass transit stations, you can also provide geo-fenced, prepaid access to services like Lyft and Uber. Offer last-mile connections between destination transit stations and the office, and encourage commuters to carpool for travel from their homes to origin stations.
  • Offer free transit credits to carpoolers. This approach does double duty: it incentivizes ridesharing while encouraging employees to make better use of available public transit options. Create a points program where commuters who carpool a certain number of days per month are eligible for free or subsidized public transit access. 
  • Build a “buddy system.” Facilitate carpooling by matching employees who live close to one another as “commute buddies.” Sometimes, especially in larger companies, people simply aren’t aware that they have co-workers in close proximity who are willing to share rides (and costs). Matching can also be schedule-based, making it easier for people who arrive and depart from work at the same time to buddy up.
  • Set up reduced-rate and preferred parking systems for carpoolers. Offer reduced-rate or free parking to vehicles used in carpools, or give carpoolers privileged access to preferred parking spots or lots.

Remember: ridesharing/carpooling and public transit programs work well together. Integrating them, rather than approaching each program as standalone entities, will help drum up higher participation rates in your smart commuting initiatives.

A cutting-edge commuter management platform like the RideAmigos software suite is ideal for creating and administering effective programs that have a positive impact on your business, and in your community. To learn more about our industry-leading software, please contact us or view our free video demonstration.

30 Days of Biking with RideAmigos

The 30 Days of Biking challenge kicks off soon. Are you in?

30 Days of BikingOn April 1st the annual 30 Days of Biking challenge kicks off its latest session. The premise is simple: participants pledge to ride a bike every day during the month of April. It doesn’t matter how long or how far. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like. Just ride a bike every day from April 1 to April 30 and you’ve done it. Those taking part are encouraged to share their journeys on social media using the hashtag #30daysofbiking.

The 30 Days of Biking movement began off seven years ago in Minneapolis and has since spread to include many different city chapters across the United States. Beyond raising awareness for the benefits of cycling and promoting it as an alternative to driving, the project collects proceeds from sponsorships and merchandise sales, which are used to purchase bicycles for disadvantaged children.

Enjoy the benefits and incentives of participation.

Anyone can sign up for the 30 Days of Biking challenge, and the benefits make the commitment wholly worthwhile. First, biking every day for one month straight will help improve your health. Coupled with a sensible diet, cycling is one of the best ways to lose weight; it’s a low-impact exercise that doesn’t put much strain on your body, but still gives you a powerful workout.

Research has also shown that regular exercise improves your mood and helps you get deeper, more restful sleep at night. Chances are good you’ll notice that you’re more energetic, more creative and better able to perform in all aspects of your life.

You’ll also be helping more than one important cause; bike to work and you’ll be doing your part to reduce traffic congestion. Generate pledges or purchase official merchandise and you’ll be spreading the word about the event while helping supply bikes to kids in need. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by signing up. Are you in?

RideAmigos + 30 Days of Biking

The RideAmigos platform is the ideal tool for promoting challenges like 30 Days of Biking within your organization, as well as creating other custom challenges for users in your network. Create and manage your own 30 Days of Biking challenge and help users plan their cycling routes in all April long. Challenges like 30 Days of Biking are a proven way to help people think differently about their transportation options and are an integrated part of our transportation management platform. In addition to challenges and incentives, our groundbreaking platform puts a wealth of local and regional transit information at users’ fingertips, allowing them to pre-plan journeys, view transit information and, for businesses and organizations, generate insights into the ways people get around your area.

Our platform is specifically developed to make use of challenges and incentives to encourage people explore the many transit alternatives available to them, from cycling and walking to rideshares, schoolpools and more.

Learn how to set up and run a 30 Days of Biking challenge at the RideAmigos Academy, your source for all the latest tips and tricks for making the most of our software.