Overview
What is RideShare?
RideShare is a publicly funded program that provides commuter resources to individuals and employers in the Kansas City metro area, helping to make often costly transportation decisions more affordable for workers.
RideShare works in two main ways — assisting employers with transportation programs and helping individuals find riding opportunities with other commuters. Established in 1980, the program serves commuters from seven counties in Missouri and five counties in Kansas.
The program offers a commuter-matching service for anyone who lives, works or attends school in the greater Kansas City area or within 75 miles of downtown Kansas City, Mo.
Why Rideshare?
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You'll save money. The average commuter who drives 20 miles round trip to work or school each day spends more than $2,000 a year on those trips alone. Using your car less often reduces the amount of gasoline purchased and maintenance needed to operate it. Some insurance companies offer discounts for reduced driving. If you lease a car, you may be able to reduce payments by leasing at a lower annual mileage figure.
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It's flexible. You don't have to rideshare every single day — simply choose days that work best for you. Riding with someone else is more convenient than you may think. Most carpool or vanpool arrangements are as near door-to-door as can be arranged, which means you don't have to search for parking or worry about parking fees.
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Driving less improves air quality. Do you know your AirQ? Kansas Citians make an average of 10.6 trips in their vehicles every day. Carpooling, mass transit and combining errands result in cleaner air, less congestion and less noise. In fact, carpooling with one other person just three days a week can cut individual ozone-producing emissions by 30 percent.
Mission
RideShare's mission is to increase mobility and reduce congestion by providing information on and promoting commuter transportation services in order to enhance the quality of life for residents in communities throughout the Kansas City metro area.
Funding
The RideShare program is part of the State Implementation Plan to improve air quality in Kansas and Missouri. It is also included in MARC's long-range transportation plan for the Kansas City metropolitan area. RideShare is primarily funded through the federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program. All of RideShare's services are available to individuals and employers at no cost.