Once the surveys have been completed and Matchlists are returned, it’s time for you to begin marketing the UTA Rideshare programs to your co-workers. Because not all employers can offer financial incentives, an equally powerful persuader is saving time and worry. In order to make this type of incentive effective, you must convince your co-workers that ridesharing will make their lives easier. In addition, you should make ridesharing an easy thing to start. Intimidating forms, anything presented as mandatory, or inconvenient meetings will immediately turn off your co-workers.

The key is to make sure that everyone knows you are available to help. Centralizing UTA Rideshare information in your office or another common area is a way to make ridesharing more accessible for everyone.

Parking Management
Parking management strategies influence the location, cost, availability, and demand for parking at employment sites. The objective is to accommodate as many commuters (not vehicles) as possible, while minimizing the space devoted to parking. This is accomplished through employer incentives and/or disincentives that encourage your co-workers to adopt alternatives to driving alone. Ridesharing offers a variety of benefits to your employer and co-workers:

Reduces space requirements
Reduces traffic congestion at or near the work site
Improves community relations
Promotes efficient use of employer resources
Addresses air quality related trip reduction objectives

The greatest motivator for ridesharing or using alternative transportation is parking cost. Abundant, free parking encourages co-workers to drive alone to work, and prevents a transportation management plan from having any measurable impact on employee travel patterns. As an incentive, employers could provide employees with a monthly transit allowance equal to the value of a parking space. Employees who choose a cheaper alternative could pocket the cash!

Personalized Attention
Personalized attention is a great way to market the idea of ridesharing and make it more accessible to your co-workers. A good way to start this process is to follow-up on your Matchlists. Contact the interested carpoolers. Try to personally introduce participants to help reduce anxiety about trying something new.

Rideshare Information Meetings
Hold Rideshare Information meetings with groups of people who live in the same part of town. Keep the meetings informal, serve refreshments, and hold them during regular work hours if possible, not during lunch hour or breaks. Doing so shows the company’s commitment to ridesharing. Have people introduce themselves. Then, review the benefits of ridesharing and any special programs offered by your company or UTA Rideshare. For vanpoolers in particular, a meeting is important because it is an opportunity for members to establish pick-up and drop-off points, fares, payments, drivers, etc.

Informational Materials
Include ridesharing information in your company newsletter. Give personal recognition to co-workers who make a difference. Post UTA Rideshare information on every company bulletin board. Use posters, e-mail, and payroll stuffers to advertise ridesharing.

Rideshare Centers
Periodically set up a Rideshare Center, use an area where employees gather socially such as the lunch or break room. Draw attention to your exhibit by giving away soda, popcorn, etc.

Staff Presentations
Make frequent staff presentations about ridesharing, this keeps up the level of awareness for your co-workers. Many people are just not sure they will like ridesharing. Help ease them into it by suggesting trial pooling and part-time pooling. Always stress that ridesharing is an option not a requirement.

Task Forces
Form task forces or “quality teams” of employees to help you develop program incentives and details. Teams could be organized by mode (bicycle, van, bus, etc.) This marketing technique builds ownership on the part of your co-workers and it gives you an internal support group.

Be Ready
Be ready with information on ridesharing, cost savings, incentives, buses, carpools, and vanpools when your employees ask. Keep track of pools and routes within your company. That way you will be prepared to refer new individuals to existing pools and arrange for meetings of potential poolers when needed. Remember, if you act indifferently, your co-workers will get the message that this is not important.

Free!
It’s human nature to want something for nothing. Offer prizes, awards, and other freebies to co-workers as motivators for ridesharing. You can also use awards and special privileges to reward and give recognition to Rideshare participants. Always let employees know what’s in it for them.

Participate in the ETC Network
Participate in our ETC Network. Check the ETC section of the web site at www.utarideshare.com. Come to the monthly meetings, network, and stay informed and educated. Read the quarterly issue of Rideshare Roadways. Call UTA Rideshare anytime you need help. Let us hear about how your program is working, and any new ideas you create!

Informational Materials Include ridesharing information in your company newsletter. Give personal recognition to co-workers who make a difference. Post UTA Rideshare information on every company bulletin board. Use posters, e-mail, and payroll stuffers to advertise ridesharing.

Rideshare Centers Periodically set up a Rideshare Center, use an area where employees gather socially such as the lunch or break room. Draw attention to your exhibit by giving away soda, popcorn, etc.

Task Forces Form task forces or “quality teams” of employees to help you develop program incentives and details. Teams could be organized by mode (bicycle, van, bus, etc.) This marketing technique builds ownership on the part of your co-workers and it gives you an internal support group.

Free! It’s human nature to want something for nothing. Offer prizes, awards, and other freebies to co-workers as motivators for ridesharing. You can also use awards and special privileges to reward and give recognition to Rideshare participants. Always let employees know what’s in it for them.

Informational Materials
Include ridesharing information in your company newsletter. Give personal recognition to co-workers who make a difference. Post UTA Rideshare information on every company bulletin board. Use posters, e-mail, and payroll stuffers to advertise ridesharing.

Rideshare Centers
Periodically set up a Rideshare Center, use an area where employees gather socially such as the lunch or break room. Draw attention to your exhibit by giving away soda, popcorn, etc.

Task Forces
Form task forces or “quality teams” of employees to help you develop program incentives and details. Teams could be organized by mode (bicycle, van, bus, etc.) This marketing technique builds ownership on the part of your co-workers and it gives you an internal support group.

Free!
It’s human nature to want something for nothing. Offer prizes, awards, and other freebies to co-workers as motivators for ridesharing. You can also use awards and special privileges to reward and give recognition to Rideshare participants. Always let employees know what’s in it for them.