Alameda County and the Bay Area have a wealth of options to get around, whether you’re a commuter trying to affordably and safely get to your destination or an employer coordinating employees’ transportation options.
Alameda County’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program helps people learn about their travel options, including ridesharing, bicycling, walking, riding public transit, and using express lanes. It also informs employers about strategies they can use to help reduce employees’ rush hour traffic stress and meet climate and sustainability goals, including providing commuter benefits, better parking management, telecommuting, and flex work schedules.
Various public agencies and non-profit organizations offer resources to encourage transit, biking, and ridesharing in Alameda County. Please expand the tabs below to learn more.
Alameda County residents and commuters can enjoy transit service from several agencies. BART, AC Transit, ACE Train, Wheels, and Amtrak provide service throughout the county, as well as connections to the greater Bay Area and Northern California regions.
Bike East Bay offers programs and resources to empower bicyclists in Alameda County, including route planning tips and free low- or no-cost learn-to-ride and urban cycling classes for adults and kids.
Carpooling and vanpooling are great commute options, especially if your transit or biking options are limited. Those who share the ride have access to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, receive discounted bridge tolls, and can use express lanes for reduced or no toll with FasTrak Flex. See 511’s Commuter Benefits information for more on carpool and vanpool programs that help you find a carpool or vanpool near you.
Employees who carpool, vanpool, take transit, bike or walk to work are eligible for the county’s free Guaranteed Ride Home Program. The program ensures that participants have a free ride home in the case of an emergency. This program supports use of transit and other sustainable transportation modes by increasing flexibility to respond to unexpected situations. For more information, please visit the Alameda County Guaranteed Ride Home Program website at grh.alamedactc.org or call 510.433.0320.
Various public agencies and non-profit organizations offer many resources to employers who encourage their employees to use sustainable modes. Expand the tabs below to explore what we offer and how we can partner with your company to offer sustainable transportation options for your employees.
Bike East Bay can provide adult urban bicycling classes on-site at low or no cost. As an employer, you can request an on-site class by filling out an application on their website.
Encourage employees to bike to work by providing secure bike parking for your employees. Below are some resources that may help.
Employers with 50 or more employees in the Bay Area are required to provide at least one of five types of commuter benefits under the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program. Commuter benefits include pre-tax benefits, subsidies, shuttle services, and teleworking policies. Check out the Employer Guide for more information.
Employers can encourage employees to share rides to work through ride matching programs. See 511’s Commuter Benefits information for more on carpool and vanpool programs. As an incentive to not drive alone, many employers in Alameda County reserve priority parking spaces for people who carpool or vanpool to work.
Some cities and employers use car sharing to replace their fleet vehicles and to alleviate employees’ needs to drive their personal cars to work because they need to use them for work-related travel. Zipcar has vehicles available for hourly and daily rentals within Alameda County. Turo offers more casual car sharing arrangements (known as peer-to-peer car sharing services). If you are interested in bringing car sharing to your place of business, or setting up a business account your employees can use, contact these services directly.
California state law requires that certain employers with more than 50 employees who provide subsidized parking for their employees also offer a cash allowance in lieu of a parking space. See the Air Resources Board website for more information.
Employers and property managers of large residential sites can increase the visibility and usability of transit by providing on-site transit information. Transit screens provide riders with upcoming departure times for bus routes serving the neighborhood and trains at nearby stations. Real-time information helps commuters and residents plan their trips. Vendors such as Actionfigure and Navigo provide the screen, software, and design support to help you set up your display.
TMAs are local organizations that help employers manage their transportation needs by providing additional services, benefits, and resources such as special shuttles and targeted commuter information. Typically, TMAs are a public-private partnership between local government and local businesses. Several areas of Alameda County are already covered by TMAs. See if your company is in one of these areas:
- Alameda TMA (serves the City of Alameda)
- Bishop Ranch Office Park (shuttle serves Alameda County)
- Emeryville TMA (runs the Emery-Go-Round Shuttle)
- Hacienda Business Park Commute Solutions
- San Leandro Transportation Management Organization (LINKS shuttle serves parts of San Leandro)
