Celebrate Rideshare Month in October
September 28, 2020

What is rideshare month?

Ridesharing is exactly what it sounds like --sharing the ride. You can share with a co-worker, a friend, a family member, or someone you identify through a specific program designed to match people with similar commutes. Commonly referred to as carpooling or vanpooling, the term has come to encompass any form of transportation that moves more than one person at a time such as biking groups, public transit, or riding on private shuttles. Rideshare month celebrates those who rideshare because the choice to use a mode that isn’t a single-occupant vehicle is better for the environment.

Why rideshare?

The benefits of choosing alternatives to driving solo are numerous. Commuters who rideshare save money. According to AAA, the average cost of driving per mile ranges from $0.53 to $0.79 (“AAA’s Your Driving Costs” AAA Exchange, exchange.aaa.com/automotive/driving-costs). Multiply that seemingly small expense by the number of miles driven per year and the hidden cost of driving alone adds up quickly. To calculate your drive alone cost, try our Commute Cost Calculator.

How does ridesharing help businesses?

How we get to the workplace affects our overall job satisfaction, mood, and productivity. The Alewife TMA provides strategic consulting services focused on transportation solutions that reduce the number of cars on the road for the Alewife/Fresh Pond area of Cambridge, MA. Explore how our Transportation Demand Management (TDM) expertise could benefit your location.

Celebrating National Rideshare Month

Usually observed in the colder months after the peak of the bike to work season is over, Rideshare Month is celebrated in October. To get the most participants a commuter services program should highlight the benefits of a sharing the ride and raise awareness of the available transportation options. A dedicated commute management professional, like those on the Alewife TMA team, should use a variety of rideshare tools and programs complimented by promotional marketing designed to encourage participation and long-term behavior-change.

The Alewife TMA provides comprehensive commuter services programs for Rideshare Month and beyond that deliver low-cost, high-impact results.

  • Commuter Origin Analysis. Mapping where commuters begin their trips can illustrate hotspots for potential carpool and vanpool groups, locations for off-site parking, and private shuttle routes. Our commute data experts overlay public transit routes and existing park and ride lots with your zip code data for even deeper analysis.
  • Commuter Surveys. Gather data to plan for parking demands and gauge commuter interest. Surveying commuters before a program launch is critical to success. Customized to your specific needs, our surveys are secure and anonymous. 
  • Shuttle Options & Off-Site Parking. Private shuttles can connect your commuters to public transit and extend its reach to your location. If you need additional parking capacity, seek a shuttle vendor who can assist with locating and procuring the best off-site parking solutions. The Alewife TMA assists members with launching and optimizing shuttle services.
  • Online Ridematching. Finding someone to ride with is what ridesharing is all about. To find the best list of partners, you’ll need to base the results on multiple commute factors such as the origin, destination, work hours, and preferences. Our private member-based platform, eCommuter, provides an all-in-one resource for matching to potential carpool, vanpool, and biking partners, exploring transportation options, and much more. 
  • Emergency Ride Home (ERH). One of the biggest barriers to ridesharing is the “what if I need my car?” An ERH program gives commuters the peace of mind to share the ride by providing those who do not have their car due to ridesharing a backup transportation option. Managed and administered through our eCommuter platform, our dispatch team provides our commuters emergency rides home through Lyft, taxi, or Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
  • Commute Challenges and Incentives. Sometimes you need that extra something to get you started. Designed to encourage and reward those who choose alternatives to driving alone, The Alewife TMA manages and administers customizable and scalable promotions focused on sustainability through commuting. See what the current Commuter Challenge is here.
  • Marketing & Promotions. The best commuter programs are only effective for those who know about them. In partnership with our clients, we design program materials that embrace your corporate culture and communications style. The Alewife TMA works with a full-time in-house creative marketing team dedicated to the success of your commuter services program.

Get your Rideshare Month rolling with the Alewife TMA. Discover how we can add to your commuter benefits package, email Director@AlewifeTMA.org or call 781-404-5043 today!


This blog post originally appeared on the TransAction Associates blog, Driven. This content has been customized for Alewife TMA and is redistributed here with permission [source: https://www.transactionassoc.com/celebrate-rideshare-month-in-october].

By Hanna Morris February 4, 2025
Alewife TMA Commuter Spotlight: Sitaram Meena, PhD
By Hanna Morris August 27, 2024
No Red Line Service Between JFK/UMass & Braintree, Sep 6–29 Free Shuttle Buses: During the shutdown, free shuttle buses will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont. Commuter Rail will be FREE between Braintree and South Station: Use the Middleborough/Lakeville and Kingston lines for service from Braintree. Use the Middleborough/Lakeville, Kingston, and Greenbush lines for service from Quincy Center (except for during the weekend closures). MBTA personnel will be available to assist riders. Commuter Rail Weekend Closures: The weekends of September 7th–8th and 14th–15th Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail service will be suspended between South Station and Braintree. Shuttles will run directly between South Staton and Braintree. At Quincy Center use Red Line Shuttle to Braintree to Connect to South Station. MBTA officials say once the track work is completed, it will improve round-trip Braintree Branch travel times by as much as 24 minutes, running service up to the maximum allowable speed of 40 miles per hour. For the latest information, we suggest the following resources: Visit camb.ma/redline for additional transit options during Red Line closures. Visit mbta.com/redline for the most up-to-date information during the closures. Visit mbtaclosures.com for information on all MBTA closures.
By Melissa Zampitella July 12, 2024
Beginning at 8:15 PM on Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 28 there will be no Red Line trains running between Alewife Station and Kendall/MIT Station. The following options will be available: Free shuttle buses will make stops at all closed stations Express shuttle buses will stop at only Alewife, Porter, and Kendall/MIT A Shuttle Loop will operate from Harvard to Central to Kendall/MIT and back to Harvard. Free Commuter Rail between Porter Square and North Station plus an extra shuttle train (doubling Commuter Rail service) Five Free Bluebikes rides with code: MBTAREDJULY MBTA Bus #77 (Arlington Heights – Harvard) will be fare-free within Cambridge On weekdays evenings after 8:30 PM the closure will extend to Park Street (Boston) – no red line service between Alewife and Park Street Shuttle buses will stop at all stations between Alewife and Part Street. On Weekends: July 13-14 : the closure will extend to JFK/UMASS – no service between Alewife and JFK/UMASS July 20-21 : the closure will extend to Park Street (Boston) – no service between Alewife and Park Street July 27-28: the closure will extend to JFK/UMASS – no service between Alewife and JFK/UMASS  Shuttle buses will stop at all closed stations. Note : Riders needing to go beyond Park Street will need to transfer to another shuttle at Park Street to go on to JFK/UMASS. The Commuter Rail will be fare-free between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station. Regular fares should be purchased beyond Braintree. The important thing to keep in mind is that there will be shuttle buses at all locations where Red Line service is closed. There will be signage and MBTA staff to assist riders in getting where they need to go. Below are a few good resources to find the most up-to-date information. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. For the latest information, we suggest the following resources: Visit camb.ma/redline for additional transit options during Red Line closures. Visit mbta.com/redline for the most up-to-date information during the closures. Visit mbtaclosures.com for information on all MBTA closures
June 3, 2024
Commuter Spotlight: Red Line Rider
May 2, 2024
Get Ready to Ride: Bike Month is Here! Spring is in full bloom! The days are longer, tulips are popping up, and if you have allergies, you might be sneezing a bit more. But there's good news for cyclists: the warmer weather means it's time to get back on the road. May is National Bike Month , and there's plenty to be excited about for bike enthusiasts in Massachusetts. What is Bike Month? National Bike Month , established in 1956, is all about celebrating the joy of cycling, promoting its health benefits, and encouraging more people to give it a try. A key part of this celebration is Bike to Work Week, which falls in the third week of May, with Bike to Work Day on the Friday of that week. This year, Bike to Work Week is from May 13 to 19, with Bike to Work Day on May 17. What's Happening in Massachusetts for Bike Month? Massachusetts is a great place to be if you love biking, and Bay State Bike Month , hosted by MassBike , has a full schedule of events to keep you moving. If you're looking for group rides or ways to get involved, this is your go-to resource.
February 21, 2024
We all know the question, “what’s in it for me?” It’s the eternal quandary that all marketers are on a mission to answer. If they can explain what’s in for me to do or buy something, their job is done. But what if we rolled that question on its head and asked, “what’s in it for you, and me, and even them? When it comes to a green or sustainable commute, there happens to be a LOT it in for you, me, your neighbor and the person who sits across from you on the T. For you, it’s more convenient and economical way to commute. For your neighbor or the person across from you on the T, you are helping the environment and reducing traffic congestion by using a sustainable travel mode and NOT driving alone in a car. For that action, we at the Alewife TMA believe you should be rewarded.
January 29, 2024
Thank you to our members, partners, and green commuters who collectively made 2023 an excellent year for the Alewife TMA! Together, we celebrate the progress made towards sustainability in the Alewife & Fresh Pond area. Please take a moment to view our 2023 Recap which highlights the impact of the past year, We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts in transforming our region into a space where multimodal transportations options are available for everyone.
mechanic next to car, text: Winter Car Maintenance and Safety Tips with Luis
By TransAction Associates January 4, 2024
It's officially winter! Are you ready for the snow and ice? Is your car ready? Join Luis Mejia, Fleet Mechanic at TransAction Associates & Corporate Shuttles, as he shares some winter car maintenance and safety tips.
December 7, 2023
The Alewife TMA was thrilled to meet with Erin Shields of Longfellow to discuss Longfellow's dedication to environmental sustainability and the value of TMA membership for the tenants and employees at 100/125/150 Cambridgepark Drive.
By TransAction Associates October 26, 2023
World Car-Free Day 2023 was a huge success! Organized in a variety of ways around the globe, every event shared the unifying goal of reducing the number of cars on the road. The Alewife TMA participated in MassCommute's 2023 Car-Free Day, the Commonwealth’s Coalition of 15 TMAs to promote and celebrate Car-Free Day in Massachusetts. Commuters who participated helped to make a positive impact on the environment and contributed to a greener Bay State!
Show More
Share by: