Florida Offers Bike Commuters Emergency Rides

Sometime riding partner Mathilde and my first reader in the wild sent me a link to a story by Bob King about the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) new Emergency Ride Home Program.

Ever had a day when it’s storming like crazy, you ran over a nail on the way to work, you forgot to pick up a spare tube the last time you flatted and you worked late so there’s nobody in the parking lot to give you a lift?

FDOT might bail you out

Rain storm

Here’s how it works (in FDOT-speak):

The Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program provides free taxi service in emergency situations for registered commuters in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Think of it as “commuter insurance.”

Calling for rideWho can participate?

The program is available to commuters who carpool, vanpool, ride transit, bicycle, or walk to work at least three days a week. Eligible “emergency” situations include the sudden illness of the commuter or a member of his/her immediate family; unscheduled overtime or extended work hours; or a carpool/vanpool driver’s inability to make the scheduled trip home due to an unexpected work schedule change of illness.

Each registered ERH program participant is allowed up to six free emergency rides per year. An original voucher must be given to the taxi company to utilize the service. This does not include the tip for the taxi driver.

How Can You Start?

Sign up right now or call Customer Service at 1-800-234-RIDE and a representative will assist you. If you qualify, you will receive vouchers in the mail within seven to ten business days.

3 Replies to “Florida Offers Bike Commuters Emergency Rides”

  1. Wow, sounds like a nice deal. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a registered commuter though. I don’t think that species exists here in Polk county.

  2. Todd,

    I don’t know if it it’s available in Polk County. I messaged Jack Sweeney over at Bike Commuters and he said something similar is in place for the Hillsborough Bay Area Commuter Service.

    Of course, most cab companies offer free rides to drunks. Slur your words and stagger a little and you might get one of those rides.

  3. IM A CANADIAN RESIDENT AND AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME FROM YOUR COMPANY….IF YOU CAN
    I AM STARTING A BYCICLE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE COMPANY HERE IN CANADA….IT WILL BE STARTING IN VANCOUVER B.C ID REALLY LOVE TO CHAT WITH YOU ON YOUR IDEA AND IF IT COULD WORK HERE …IM DOING MY PLAN DIFFERENT BUT WOULD SOOOO LOVE TO HEAR MORE OF YOUR IDEA

    THANKS TIMVANDERMEY@HOTMAIL.COM

Comments are closed.