In the early days of the pandemic, U.S. cities faced a crisis for fear of the virus and the sudden regularity of remote work drove people out to the suburbs and beyond.

As we continue to look ahead into the future, people are slowly moving back to cities. Cities like Seattle are climbing back above its 2020 population with 12,200 new residents, while a handful of cities like Detroit are seeing a long term decline.

In planning and managing the growth of cities, governments and even employers are seeking ways of how to best meet the transportation needs of existing and new residents in hopes of cutting down travel costs and times, increase road safety, and lessen the amount of greenhouse gasses released.

The Link Between Transportation and Urbanization

Transportation is crucial for urbanization. Not only is it good for economic growth but it plays a role in how people move. 

Mobility allows people to easily move from one place to another to achieve certain goals or access certain resources, goods, or services. The more difficult it is to move around, the less appealing an urban area becomes.

So what can be done on the government side to make mobility more accessible?

Governments would need to consider improving urban transportation systems and deliver sustainability.

This means encouraging more people to use public transportation, walk, or use bikes and discourage vehicles from city centers by introducing congestion pricing.

Burning fossil fuels for transportation adds up to 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Switching to greener options leads to fewer vehicles on the road and less greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

In doing so, governments need to have a complete understanding of transportation and urbanization such as how various modes of transportation impact cities and how innovation may deliver improved urban sustainability.

Are There Advantages and Drawbacks for Commuters?

Yes, definitely! With urbanization and population growth, there will be more congestion.

Public transportation moves large amounts of people at one time, but can be expensive and difficult for people with disabilities to use.

Cars are good for people who live outside of cities, often faster than public transportation, and convenient. However, cars are high polluters and a primary cause of traffic congestion.

Bikes are an inexpensive and environmentally friendly option for people who live close to their destination. What is often the hiccup, weather and how often it is ridden.

What Can Employers Do to Help Their Employees

Employers are retaining their employees with benefits to help them move safely, efficiently, and easily by offering:

• Parking subsides
  • Though it’s common for businesses to have their own parking lots, many do not. 
  • 19% of employers offer parking subsidies, which can vary by region and cost.
  • They are convenient but incentivize car use, which means traffic congestion.
• Public transportation passes
  • A great option for people who live in cities.
  • 31% of employers provide this option to their employees but it varies greatly on accessibility, employer size, and employee demand.
• Vanpool programs
  • An ideal option for carpoolers, but not as applicable to shorter and urban commutes.
  • Vanpooling can save 40-75% on the cost of driving a car and is one of the least expensive commuting options.
• E-bike, e-scooter, and pedal bike programs
  • A subsidy can be offered towards a month-to-month e-bike, e-scooter, or pedal bike subscription.
  • The market is rapidly growing with commuters seeing these programs as low-cost and environmentally friendly.
  • More cities and states are exploring incentive programs to help residents and employers make the switch to alternative modes of transportation. 

The Value in Adding E-Bike, E-Scooter, and Pedal Bike Programs to Your Benefits Package

Adding these kinds of programs has advantages for both the employer and employee.

Employers can provide a low-cost alternative to public transportation, ridesharing, and driving as more require their employees to return to the office.

Employees will save money on their commute as well as see an increase in productivity, take fewer sick days, and stay active.

To tie it all together, cities and states are investing in infrastructure to make it safer and more convenient to ride. Improved bike lanes, charging stations, storage, and parking lots promote the integration of these vehicles in urban planning. 

Ridepanda is an Innovative Transportation Leader

Innovations in transportation have led to a rise of new technologies that are expected to revolutionize the way we commute to and from work. 

With these new technologies, Ridepanda is making it possible for people to move from rural to urban areas more than ever before.

How does this work?

• Your employees can choose from a wide selection of e-bikes, e-scooters, and pedal bikes all through a month-to-month subscription. 
• Ridepanda offers the best quality vehicles from Specialized, Giant, Brompton, Diamondback, Dahon, Segway, Okai, Momentum, and more.
• The vehicle is the employee’s to take home and can be used for commuting, running errands, meeting up with friends and family, and more.
• The employee applies their monthly subsidy amount to their subscription.
• Ridepanda integrates with your company’s benefits provider. 
• Ridepanda provides free delivery to your home or pick up at a Panda Hub if you live in San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC
• Benefit from free insurance, on-going maintenance, and a helmet and lock at no extra charge.

‍And better yet!

• A Ridepanda program can be up and running in a matter of weeks with a custom employee portal where employees can view and select vehicles for their subscription.
• Your company gets immediate access to a robust reporting dashboard once your program is launched.
• All employee support issues are handled by Ridepanda’s Support Team.
• There is no upfront cost or per employee charge to implement a Ridepanda program.

What Are the Benefits of Adding This Program?

Your employees are more engaged and happy. They’ll have a healthier commute, save time and money, be stress free, and make an environmental impact.

What Are You Waiting For? Contact Us Today!

Ridepanda has everything you need to expand your existing commuter benefits program.