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

IE Commuter, the popular commuter program led by RCTC and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), was recently honored with the prestigious Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Industry Impact Award during the 39th Annual Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) International Conference. This national award recognizes outstanding programs that measurably improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance air quality.

The program was recognized for its leadership in shifting solo drivers towards shared commute modes through a coordinated blend of employer partnerships, incentive programs, education, and ridematching technology.

“Using carpools, vanpools, and public transportation significantly eases regional transportation congestion,” said RCTC Chair and Riverside County Board of Supervisor Karen Spiegel. “I am proud of the national recognition our IE Commuter program has in collaboration with our valued partners at SBCTA. Together, we are demonstrating our commitment to improving mobility for Inland Empire residents.”

The Inland Empire is home to more than 4.6 million residents who face some of the longest commutes in the country. The program facilitates carpooling, vanpooling, and the use of public transit as alternatives to driving alone. These initiatives enable residents to reduce commuting costs and travel time, while enhancing the overall quality of their daily commutes.

IE Commuter, RCTC, and SBCTA continue to pave the way for improved travel, cleaner air, and healthier communities. To learn more about the program and to start your smarter commute, please visit: iecommuter.org

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.

Earth Day is a day of celebration, action, and reflection. RCTC and agency partners are helping our planet by providing and advocating for sustainable solutions in transportation and land conservation. Here’s how to get involved:

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: RCTC Encourages Motorists to Explore Alternatives to Driving Solo during Rideshare Week, October 7-11

Tired of sitting in traffic, day after day? The Riverside County Transportation Commission and partnering organizations are asking you to Reimagine Your Commute during Rideshare Week, October 7-11. Imagine saving money, reducing stress, improving your health, and decreasing pollution by joining a carpool or vanpool, hopping on the train or bus, and biking or walking to work.

But wait, there’s more! Commuters who make a pledge and share rides at least once during Rideshare Week are eligible for a chance to win bunches and bunches of great prizes, including a swanky bicycle from Media Beef, a one-night stay with breakfast at the Doubletree Ontario Airport, a fishing trip and whale watching tickets from Dana Wharf, a recliner from La-Z-Boy West, and even a Samsung tablet and Apple Watch from WSP USA, to track all of your steps. More prizes are up for grabs; check out the complete list at IECommuter.org.

RCTC reminds you that it pays to share rides. Whether you are thinking about ridesharing or you are already enrolled through IE Commuter, check out these incentives:

In addition, if you are enrolled in an employer-based ridesharing program through IE Commuter and need to work late or get home for an emergency, IE Commuter offers a guaranteed ride home via transportation network company, taxi, rental car or transit, up to four times per year. Click here for more information.

Want to talk to a ridesharing representative? Call 1-866-RIDESHARE (866-743-3742) to learn more.