511 Contra Costa is encouraging everyone who lives and works in Contra Costa County to make their commute a little greener and participate in the Text-Your-Commute Challenge next month. Sign up now by texting the word “START” to 925-905-TRIP (925-905-8747). Participants will begin receiving daily texts at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. asking them to report on their commute. Challenge participants who make 15 clean-air, one-way trips over the course of three weeks will be eligible to win a $25 prize; those who make 30 clean trips can win a $50 prize; and the “commute champs” who make the highest number of clean trips will have a chance to win a prize of $100. Clean trips include carpooling, vanpooling, public transportation (bus, train, ferry), using a ride sharing app (like Lyft Line, Uber Pool, or Scoop), walking or bicycling to or from work.
511 Contra Costa is committed to reducing congestion and pollution in the area by encouraging solo-drivers to take transit or join a carpool or vanpool. In fact, 511 Contra Costa offers an additional $25 incentive to qualified commuters who decide to park their car and hop in a carpool. Learn more about the carpool incentive at 511contracosta.org/driving/carpool/.
511 Contra Costa will even help commuters find the carpool or vanpool service that best matches their needs at http://511.org/carpool-vanpool/findmatch
Any employee in Contra Costa can sign up for the Guaranteed Ride Home, which will reimburse commuters for an Uber, Lyft, or taxi ride home in the event of an emergency, if they traveled to work using a qualified mode, such as biking, carpooling, or taking transit. https://511contracosta.org/guaranteed-ride-home/
How Text-Your-Commute works:
- Text START to 925-905-TRIP (925-905-8747) from your cell phone anytime between now and October 15 to participate in the Text-Your-Commute Challenge
- You have until October 15 to register. Once you’re registered, you will get daily texts at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. asking you about your commute for three weeks
- Respond by texting your commute (after you have reached your destination if you are driving) by using up to two of the following codes, separated by spaces (e.g. 1 2 ):
1 – Carpool
2 – Transit
3 – Ride Share App
4 – Walk
5 – Bike
6 – Drive alone
7 – Other
- Win rewards for your clean-air trips!
If you no longer wish to participate in the challenge, text STOP to 925-905-TRIP.
