Emergency Ride Home Program
Stanford commuters, why not leave your car at home? Thinking of using alternative transportation on an occasional, part-time, or full-time basis, but are afraid of being stranded on campus without your car in the event of a personal emergency? Don't worry. Register with the Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program, and, if you have an eligible emergency on a day you commuted to Stanford by alternative transportation, we'll ensure that you get home.
How to enroll
If you are a Commute Club member, you are already enrolled in the program and don't need to apply.
If you are not a Commute Club member, you will need to sign up online or return the completed registration form (PDF, 80 KB) to Parking & Transportation Services (P&TS).
Once you enroll, your registration will remain effective for the duration of your employment or enrollment at Stanford.
How to use it
When that unforeseen emergency arises, call us at 650.723.9362. We'll arrange a taxi or rental car for you (waiting times for taxis may vary from 15 to 30 minutes). When meeting your taxi, ask the driver to confirm your name and destination to ensure your fare will be covered. The taxi should have been dispatched by Yellow Checker Rainbow Cab.
If your emergency arises when our office is closed, you'll need to make your own arrangements, and we'll reimburse you later if the situation meets the program requirements: read the rules and restrictions section for more information and be sure to keep your receipt(s).
If your destination is within 20 miles of campus, we'll send a cab. If you need to get farther away, we'll line you up with a rental car. You're allowed four free rides per academic year.
If our office is closed
The P&TS office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. During these hours you must call our office at 650.723.9362 to arrange an Emergency Ride Home.
If an eligible emergency arises while you're on campus after 5 p.m., or on a weekend or university holiday, you'll need to make arrangements and pay for your ride yourself, but bring us your receipt, and we will process your reimbursement. If you meet all of the qualifications for a free ride just follow these simple steps:
- Call Yellow Checker Rainbow Cab at 650.999.9999. Tell them where you need to be picked up at Stanford, and where you need to go. The cab company takes cash or credit card. If you have neither, try to make arrangements with a co-worker, or have the cab take you to an ATM on the way home. We don't reimburse for tips.
- Make sure you retain your receipts and collect any supporting materials you can to help us verify your request and maintain the integrity of the program. Doctor's receipts and notes from daycare centers or the fire department will do.
- As soon as you get back to Stanford, call P&TS and explain what happened. Then mail or drop off the supporting materials to our office at: Parking & Transportation Services, 340 Bonair Siding, MC: 7255.
Rules and restrictions
The Emergency Ride Home program is open to non-resident students and all university and hospital employees. The intent of the Emergency Ride Home program is to ensure commuters who travel using alternative transportation can depart work in an expeditious manner in the event of a personal emergency. You are allowed four free rides per academic year (September through August).
In order to qualify for a free ride, you must:
- be registered with our program
- be using an alternative to driving alone to Stanford on the day you need a ride,
- have a covered, verifiable need (we can only cover matters of personal necessity, not personal choice)
- not be a Stanford resident
What is a "covered need"?
- minor accident or injury (you or your immediate family)
- sudden and unexpected illness (you or your immediate family)
- major accident or injury to a family member
- major individual catastrophe such as a house fire, gas leak, or flood
- your carpool or vanpool driver needs to leave campus unexpectedly
What is NOT a "covered need"?
- injury requiring immediate medical attention (call 911 or ask a coworker/friend to drive you; contact Worker's Comp if job-related)
- soiled or damaged clothing
- region-wide natural disasters such as an earthquake
- situations in which your immediate presence is not required
- breakdown of public transit (e.g., Line U, bus, or Caltrain delays and cancellations)
- you need to stay late unexpectedly and you miss your bus, train, or carpool. Employee commuters might be able to ask their department to pick up the bill.
Covered areas:
- We can only send you home or to a place where you have to deal with some emergency, such as a hospital or daycare center. You may also stop at the site of emergency, and then continue home, but you may not make unnecessary stops (e.g., no stopping to purchase something or talk to a friend or relative on the way).