Colleges & Vocational Schools

Educating current and future commuters at institutions of higher education is an effective way to promote the RideShare program. While alumni are not guaranteed to stay in the Kansas City region, RideShare can inform students that commute alternatives to driving alone exist locally and around the country.

RideShare can assist colleges and vocational schools in consolidating existing transportation options or developing a strong student transportation program.

Orientation and Back-to-School Programs

Since more than half of the commuters who join the RideShare program become aware of it through their company or school, RideShare representatives try to visit as many organizations as possible. Informational fairs are RideShare's best means of reaching commuters to offer them information about transportation alternatives.

Many schools plan "welcome back" or orientation programs each fall for new and returning students. These programs typically include forums to advertise on-campus organizations and activities. Busy students may find it overwhelming to research transportation options on their own time. Scheduling RideShare representatives at such events ensures students the opportunity to learn about transportation alternatives. Representatives can individually assist students in selecting commute options that best fit their lifestyle and schedules.

Environmental Outreach Talks

Sometimes it helps to have a captive audience — especially if the audience already supports environmental awareness or social change. RideShare can make presentations to student organizations such as student senate, environmental groups and non-traditional student clubs. These presentations can be tailored to the group's needs. RideShare can include additional Mid-America Regional Council staff to address air quality, bicycle safety and other topics of interest.

Career Development

Consider appointing an Transportation Coordinator within your career development office, someone who can answer questions students have about the school's transportation program. Students' schedules are fluid and frequently changing, so it can be more difficult to locate ridesharing matches using the regular RideShare database, where 80 percent of participants are nonstudents with regular schedules. Schedule a RideShare representative to be present during job or career fairs to distribute transportation information about alternatives for commuting to work.

RideShare can provide free promotional materials to your school with tips on carpooling, safe biking and walking and other transit alternatives. 

For more information, e-mail us or call 816/842-RIDE.