Whether you drive, ride, or roll – Riverside County offers flexible travel options to fit your lifestyle. From buses and trains to carpools and vanpools, it’s never been easier to explore more convenient and efficient ways to commute. This October, take part in two national campaigns that encourage the use of public transit, ridesharing, and alternative modes of travel.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, celebrate the 8^th annual California Clean Air Day by riding the train or bus! Public transit operators across Riverside County will be offering free rides on this day, including Metrolink, Riverside Transit Agency (including CommuterLink and GoMicro), and many others! If you’ve never ridden the bus or train before, now is the perfect time to get started.

Rideshare Week (October 6 – 10) encourages travelers to explore new ways to commute other than driving alone – such as carpooling, vanpooling, walking, biking, or public transit – and IE Commuter provides incentives for doing so. IE Commuter, the popular commuter program led by RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, provides ride-matching services, trip planning tools, and exciting prizes just for participating. Discover a smarter, more affordable way to commute by visiting IECommuter.org.

Funding for bus and passenger rail services, motorist assistance, and ridesharing programs used by Riverside County residents is thanks in part to Measure A; the twice voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. By expanding travel options throughout the region, RCTC continues to improve mobility for the people of Riverside County. Learn more about Measure A by visiting: rctc.org/measure-a

Thanks to the recent expansion of RCTC’s VanClub program into the Coachella Valley and eastern Riverside County, more commuters are now saving time and commuting costs by starting and joining vanpools. The popular program recently welcomed four new vanpools – serving employees of the Ironwood State Prison in Blythe. VanClub is one of many ways RCTC and commuters are working to relieve traffic and help the environment. Currently, there are 49 vanpools being subsidized by VanClub.

Last year, SunLine Transit transferred its existing SolVan program to RCTC’s VanClub program. The consolidation helped streamline services and enhance the efficiency of vanpool operations across Riverside County – providing commuters with a larger pool of potential ridesharing buddies.

“Since joining RCTC’s VanClub, our vanpooling employees have experienced a significant reduction in stress and anxiety that comes with extreme commutes, many exceeding an hour each way. For those working long or even double shifts, vanpools are an absolute lifesaver – providing much-needed time to relax or rest on the way home. Plus, they’re saving a lot of money on fuel and maintenance for their personal vehicles,” said Sonia Andrade, employer transportation coordinator at Ironwood State Prison.

VanClub covers 50% of eligible Riverside County vanpools vehicle lease rates – up to $600 per month, which includes vehicle maintenance, roadside assistance, and insurance. This financial assistance helps vanpool members reduce cost and wear and tear on their personal vehicles while also reducing the number of cars on the road. VanClub members are also eligible to earn incentives through the IE Commuter program.

Since the program’s inception in 2018, VanClub members have helped reduce more than 523,888 drive-alone vehicle trips, 19.6 million vehicle miles traveled, and 7,404 tons of vehicle emissions.

VanClub is partially funded by Measure A, the twice-voter approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements and services in Riverside County. Additional funding is provided by local Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction) and federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant funds.

For more information about joining or starting a VanClub, visit: vanclub.net

No car? No problem. There’s more than one way to get around Riverside County. The region’s bus, passenger rail, and ridesharing programs are available for residents to get to their destinations without the use of a car. The Clean Air Day and Rideshare Week campaigns hope to encourage increased engagement with public transit services and ridesharing programs by inviting residents to reduce their carbon footprint through alternative travel modes.

Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County, provides funding to expand travel options throughout the region. Some of these funds used for bus and passenger rail services, motorist assistance, and ridesharing programs that residents use every day to get to and from work or around their community.

Here’s how residents can get involved:

The Coalition for Clean Air’s 7th annual California Clean Air Day raises awareness about air pollution and promotes actions – such as taking public transit, bringing lunch to work, or even shopping locally – to improve air quality and protect public health. Riverside County transit service providers will make it easy to take action by offering free rides on Clean Air Day. Metrolink will be providing free rides on all trains and Riverside Transit Agency will be offering free rides on all local, CommuterLink, and GoMicro buses. To get started, take the Clean Air Day pledge and enjoy a free bus or train ride on October 2.

Rideshare Week (Oct. 7 – 11) encourages commuters – whose main mode of transportation to work features driving a car – to explore new modes of travel with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as biking, walking, vanpools, riding the bus or taking the train. IE Commuter, a collaboration between RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, is a popular ridesharing program that assists commuters by providing incentives for ridesharing, personal ride matching services (including carpools and vanpools), Park & Ride lot information, and transit trip planning services. In 2023, IE Commuter supported more than 1,100 regional employers and reduced 10.7 million pounds in vehicle emissions through ridesharing programs and RCTC’s VanClub service.

This October, ditch the car keys and hop on the bus or train, join a carpool, or ride your bike to work and enjoy an improved, stress-free commute.

Members of RCTC’s popular vanpool program, VanClub, now have more reasons to celebrate. In addition to the reduced stress, travel time, and commuting cost benefits associated with joining a vanpool with their favorite coworkers, members are now eligible for vanpool subsidies when commuting to worksites in the eastern part of the county, such as the Coachella Valley and Palo Verde Valley. The program’s expansion into eastern Riverside County is a result of the recent transition of SunLine Transit Agency’s vanpools. The agency sunset its SolVan program and transferred existing vanpools to RCTC’s VanClub program. The consolidation will streamline services and enhance the efficiency of vanpool operations across the county, allowing commuters interested in vanpooling to have a large pool of potential ridesharing buddies.

VanClub provides a subsidy of up to $600 per month for all eligible vanpools destined for worksites in Riverside County. The subsidy amount varies and is applied to the cost of the vanpool lease, which includes vehicle maintenance, roadside assistance, and insurance—subject to eligibility and restrictions. This significant financial assistance helps commuters save money and reduce the wear and tear on their personal vehicles.

Since its inception in 2018, RCTC’s VanClub program has been instrumental in providing cost-saving transportation options for commuters with long commutes and challenging schedules. By offering subsidies to eligible vanpools, VanClub has successfully reduced nearly 17 million vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) and 6,400 tons of pollutants, making a significant impact on the environment in our communities. Your choice to join VanClub is not just about saving money; it’s about making a difference by reducing your carbon footprint, getting cars off the road, and enhancing your quality of life through less stressful and more sustainable commuting options.

RCTC’s VanClub is committed to providing safe and reliable vanpools for all, including agricultural workers. Through its partnership with the California Vanpool Authority, a public transit agency, VanClub ensures that a wider range of commuters, regardless of their industry, have equitable access to cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation options.

“Vanpooling has made my 100-mile daily commute manageable. Sharing the commute with others provides camaraderie. It also reduces my carbon emissions and saves money. Driving alone no longer makes sense,” said VanClub member James E.

VanClub exemplifies RCTC’s commitment to providing innovative and cost-effective transportation solutions for commuters in Riverside County. The program is partially funded by Riverside County’s Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements and services. Additional funding is provided by local Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction (MSRC) and U.S. Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant funds. To sign up for VanClub, visit vanclub.net.

VanClub members and anyone looking for a better commute have more reasons to celebrate! The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) recently approved an increase to the monthly subsidy vanpool program. The increased subsidy covers 50% of vehicle lease rates – up to $600 per month. Previously, the subsidy covered up to $400. An additional $100 is also available for zero-emission vehicle vanpool leases.

VanClub, a service of RCTC, subsidizes eligible vanpools up to $600 per month towards the cost of a vanpool lease, which includes vehicle maintenance, roadside assistance, and insurance. This means if the monthly vehicle lease rate is $1,050, the subsidy amount paid toward the lease will be $525. If the monthly vehicle lease is $1,200 or more, the subsidy amount will not exceed $600.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, private transportation costs increased by 15.5% between 2021 and 2022, raising solo driving costs to all-time highs. By making the switch to vanpool, riders can enjoy reduced transportation costs on gas, tolls, and parking. Riders also get to minimize wear and mileage on their own vehicles and reclaim time in their day.

Communities benefit from vanpools through reduced greenhouse gas emissions from less cars on the road. Since the program’s inception in 2018, RCTC’s VanClub members have helped reduce more than 397,000 drive-alone vehicle trips, 14.5 million vehicle miles traveled, and 5.5 tons in vehicle emissions.

VanClub is partially funded by Riverside County’s Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements and services. Additional funding is provided by local Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction (MSRC) and federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant funds. VanClub is one of the ways RCTC and commuters can work together for transportation solutions that better the environment and roadway congestion.

For more information about joining or starting a VanClub, visit vanclub.net.

What is ridesharing? It’s any method you use to get to work, other than driving solo. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

• Carpooling – Round up some coworkers or be matched with people who work nearby to share rides to and from work in one vehicle.
• Vanpooling – Set up a formal vanpool through your employer or sign up for a VanClub. Learn more at VanClub.net.
• Riding the Bus – Hop aboard RTA, SunLine, or other transit providers in our region to ride to and from work.
• Taking the Train – Riding Metrolink to Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties. Several trains were recently added.
• Walking (or Running) – Put on your tennis shoes and go. Enough said.
• Cycling – Sneak in a workout and earn ridesharing trips at the same time.

If you rideshare at least five workdays per month, you can earn $5 in gift cards for each day you rideshare in a 90-day period – up to $125. Gift card options include Amazon, Stater Bros., Target, or Walmart and are selected by the employer. To be eligible, both the employer and the employee must register at IECommuter.org. Employees then log their ridesharing trips through the website.

For more information, visit IECommuter.org/5day to reach an IE Commuter representative on LiveChat or call 1-866-RIDESHARE (866-743-3742).

The Point: New lot will promote ridesharing, clean air

Commuters in southwestern Riverside County now have another option for carpooling and vanpooling, with the opening of the City of Temecula’s new Park and Ride Lot at 30100 Temecula Parkway on November 5.

The new lot features 157 spaces, security lighting, landscaping, and soon will include four charging stations for electric vehicles. In addition to being close to Interstate 15 and State Route 79, the lot is directly across the street from the Riverside Transit Agency’s Route 24 bus stop.

With the opening of the new lot, motorists can choose from 29 Park and Ride Lots in Riverside County.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission contributed $1.9 million in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds toward the approximately $3 million cost of the facility.

RCTC reminds motorists of its new VanClub incentive program. Eligible vanpools can receive a $400 per month subsidy toward the cost of a vanpool lease through Enterprise Rideshare or the California Vanpool Authority. In just six months, RCTC has enrolled 71 vanpools of at least five participants. For more information about ridesharing and the VanClub program, please click here.

The Point: Eligible vanpools receive up to $400 per month toward cost of vanpool lease

The Riverside County Transportation Commission is making it easy – and easy on the wallet – for commuters to start a vanpool through VanClub, a new incentive program. Eligible vanpools can receive a $400 per month subsidy toward the cost of a vanpool lease through Enterprise Rideshare or the California Vanpool Authority.

Commuter Jaime E. explains, “Vanpooling has made my 100-mile daily commute manageable. Sharing the commute with others provides camaraderie. It also reduces my carbon emissions and saves money. Driving alone no longer makes sense.”

RCTC began the program in April with a “soft launch,” inviting established vanpools to apply. By September, there were 69 vanpools enrolled – 63 vans with Enterprise Rideshare and six vans with the California Vanpool Authority. Additional vanpools are encouraged to apply for the subsidy, which is up to $400 monthly and may not exceed 50 percent of the lease cost.

To be eligible, vanpools must have at least five participants, commute more than 30 miles each day, commute 12 or more days each month, and travel to a workplace in western Riverside County. Please visit the program website for full eligibility requirements. Once enrolled, vanpools must log their monthly trip statistics and costs into the website. RCTC will report this data to the Federal Transit Administration. In approximately two years, RCTC expects the VanClub program to begin generating enough federal funding to sustain the program long-term.

Vanpooling offers multiple benefits:

• Financial savings: Participants can save up to 70 percent in commuting costs, including gasoline, maintenance and insurance, compared to driving solo.
• Time savings: Vanpoolers can zip past traffic using carpool lanes or Express Lanes for free or reduced tolls.
• Health savings: VanClub members can relieve stress, relax, reduce fuel consumption, and improve air quality.

Based on August figures, VanClub participants had saved 30,400 trips, 1.1 million miles and a staggering 1.8 tons of emissions.

Funding for the subsidies is provided by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County.

Visit VanClub.net or call 844-VANCLUB for more information and to apply.