Anxious about making the switch to mass transit? Emergency Ride Home is your “Plan B”

Using public transportation like trains and buses is one of the greenest ways to commute. By riding together instead of in individual cars, we save energy and emissions — and even money! But, as any commuter knows, trains and buses don’t always run on time. People often hesitate to rely on mass transit because they worry about being late to work or being stranded in an emergency without a car nearby.

That’s what the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Emergency Ride Home program is all about, and Clean Air Council has just expanded it with a pilot project in Media, Pennsylvania. The Emergency Ride Home program uses cost reimbursement to support transit riders when emergencies disrupt their commute plans and serves those who live and/or work in southeastern Pennsylvania. 

This new pilot specifically serves transit riders on four routes (SEPTA bus routes 110, 111, 114, and 117) that access Fair Acres Geriatric Center in Media. Qualifying commuters can receive an Uber voucher of up to $50 during an emergency—like when transit is seriously delayed, canceled, or can’t get you to the site of the emergency—and can redeem a voucher up to two times for the duration of the program through June 30, 2026.

If you’ve ever wanted to try taking SEPTA to work or around town but were afraid to take the plunge, signing up for this program might just put your mind at ease. Interested? Find out more below!

Who Qualifies for the Pilot Program?

To participate in this program, you must:
Be dedicated to taking SEPTA bus routes 110, 111, 114, and/or 117 at least twice a week to work
OR Live or work within the Fair Acres region

What Counts as an “Emergency”?

• Unexpected personal or family emergency or illness
• Unscheduled overtime
• If a rider cannot reach the site of the emergency via transit in a timely fashion
• If the rider’s regular route is delayed for over 30 minutes or cancelled, and this will cause an unsafe situation or undue expense for the rider (e.g. late fees for daycare or missed medical appointment)

How Do I Participate in the Pilot?

Step 1: Check your eligibility, register, and complete your profile at ShareARide.AgileMile.com/CAC 

Step 2: In a qualifying emergency situation, request a free ride (up to $50) through the Share-A-Ride website. You will receive a unique code to use when paying through the Uber app. 

Step 3: Download the Uber app and create an account.

Step 4: Use the Uber app to schedule a ride and apply your unique code at checkout.