Employers
Less Cars, Happy Employees
SBCAG’s SmartRide program empowers employers to offer commuter benefits with FREE consultation, services, and tools.
Reasons to Offer Commuter Benefits
Financial
Employers can increase parking supply for customers or employees, reducing the need for off-site parking. Employers can save 7.65% in FICA taxes by setting up an IRS 132(f) transit benefit through payroll.
Wellness
Local data indicates employees biking are 40% more satisfied with their commute. A UCLA study found that employees ridesharing in a vanpool were significantly less stressed than commuters driving alone.
Environmental
Participating employers comply with their jurisdiction’s conditions of use and meet Santa Barbara Green Business Program transportation certification requirements. The average employer program prevents 12 annual tons of CO2.
How to Implement a Program
If you want to attract and retain top talent in Santa Barbara County, it all starts and ends with the commute.
- Inventory Program: let’s identify opportunities related to policy, incentives, facilities, and marketing.
- Survey Commuters: the next step is to understand commuter behavior and preferences to implement an informed program.
- Add Pre-tax Fringe Benefits: when bus, vanpool, or train modes are in demand, implementing a pre-tax benefit or subsidy saves employers and commuters money.
- Administer Program: administer every aspect of your program, from ridematching and trip logging to program analysis and turnkey incentives.
- Engage: we are available for new hire orientations, benefits fairs, all-staff meetings, and one-to-one employee consultations.
- Promote: we create custom copy to promote your program. We offer a variety of digital and print resources, including the region’s bike map, to promote relevant options.
- Incentivize: we offer free rides to Try Transit, a vanpool subsidy, an Emergency Ride Home program, and regular giveaways to start and maintain employee commute behaviors.
- Offer Bikeshare: borrow our fleet of e-bikes for up to a month to pilot a bikeshare, empowering employees to commute, ride together, and run errands without a car.
