MassRIDES
Newsletter July
2009
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Transit/Vanpool
Transportation Fringe Benefit Increases to
$230
The Emergency
Economic Recovery Act signed into law by President
Obama includes a provision increasing the monthly
cap of the transit/vanpool portion of the
transportation fringe benefit to $230. The
increased maximum equalizes the transit and
parking portion of the transportation fringe
benefit, bringing parity to both tax-favored
commuter benefits.
Section 132(f) of the
Federal tax code enables employers to underwrite
the cost of their employees' transit or vanpool
commutes, and offset qualified parking expenses.
These benefits are not considered taxable income
for the employee, and employers may write off
these costs as a transportation
expense.
Alternatively,
employers may allow employees to set aside pre-tax
dollars to purchase transit passes, pay vanpool
fares, and to cover qualified parking costs.
Pre-tax set-asides are subject to the same monthly
limits.
For more information
about these tax benefits or for help starting a
program at your worksite contact MassRIDES at
1.888.4COMMUTE or visit www.commute.com
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MassRIDES Celebrates
National Bike to Work Week with the Go by Bike
Challenge
 May was National Bike
Month and MassRIDES celebrated
with the Go by Bike Challenge from May 11-15. This
year, 137 employees of MassRIDES partner
companies joined thousands of other cyclists
across the country by tuning up their bicycles and
trying a new commute. Participating
bicyclists recorded their daily bicycling miles
online at www.commute.com and were
entered to great win prizes, including Landry's
Bicycles Gift Certificates, MassBike memberships,
cycling gear and more. New England
BioLabs won the worksite participation award
with 3% of employees participating in the
event. Cynthia Dantas was our
grand prize winner, and four commuters won our
road warrior awards collectively commuting
over 725 miles during the
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Plan Your Car-Free
Visit to
the
Cape this
Summer!
Summer is
finally here! Planning your car-free or car-smart
visit to Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's
Vineyard and Nantucket is easier than ever with
the Smart Guide. Visit
www.smartguide.org to download maps, find out
about your options, and get great travel
tips! |
How much is your
commute costing
you?
According to AAA, "If
you commute to work by car, figure about $54 in
total vehicle expenses per 100 miles. If
that seems like a lot, driving a more
fuel-efficient model or looking into public or
alternative transportation options could save you
money." MassRIDES can help
you learn about your options. Visit www.commute.com to find a carpool partner,find vanpool routes, and
calculate your commuting
costs with our Commute
Calculator.
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Car-free Commuters:
Share your story!
A MassRIDES
participant submitted this
story:
"I live in Cambridge
and work at a mid-sized biotech company on the
North Shore of Boston. When I joined the
company, I had recently gone car-free and had no
desire to return to automobile ownership. I
tried carpooling, but because my infant son
was commuting with me to his daycare and
constantly transferring a car seat became a bigger
hassle every day, I had to find another solution.
The days of the larger toddler car seat were
getting close.
With
assistance from MassRIDES, I organized
the other Cambridge commuters from the company to
form a vanpool. Currently 12 of us,
including two children whose car seats are
permanently installed in the van, make the commute
every day. I'm expecting the birth of my
second child and have reserved a third seat in the
van. With any luck I'll be able to stay
car-free for quite a while to come."
How
do you commute car-free? Submit your story
to info.massrides@state.ma.us
for a chance to win a $25 Dunkin' Donuts gift
card. For more information about starting a
vanpool at your company, click here.
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MA Safe Routes Summer
Programs
The Massachusetts
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) is offering
summer programs for SRTS partner school
communities.
"Stepping Out
for Summer" is a free program designed for
elementary school students attending community
summer programs. Through a variety of fun,
interactive activities, the program engages and
educates participants on the health and
environmental benefits of walking and bicycling as
transportation options and also reviews important
pedestrian and bicycle safety skills. These 45
minute sessions are designed for groups of up to
30 children. Participants receive educational
materials and rewards to reinforce safety skills
and encourage increased physical activity.
Safe Routes
to School outreach staff can also assist in
the organization of Weekly Walking Clubs or Step
Challenges for school children and families in
your community. For more
information on the Massachusetts Safe Routes to
School Program and for a list of partner schools
and communities, please visit http://www.commute.com/saferoutes/.
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Tell Us Your Bike
to Work Week
Story!
National Bike to
Work Week was May 11-17. How did you celebrate?
Email us at info.massrides@state.ma.us and
tell us about your
bicycle commuting adventure. The
winning submission with win a $25 REI Gift Card and be
included in our next
eNewsletter!
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| Win a Boston Summer Fun Pack!
MassRIDES offers monthly
raffle prizes to our ridematch participants. Two prizes
each month will be awarded - one to new registrants, and
one for existing users who update their profile
online. New registrants can sign up online
or call
1.888.4COMMUTE to register by phone. If you are already
registered, you can
access your profile online to
make updates and check for new matches! This month you
could win a Boston Summer Fun Pack
including 4 Boston CityPass Books with FREE
admission to 5 Boston attractions, a $100 Gift Card to
Legal Sea Foods and a $100 Boston Duck Tours Gift Card!
The prize changes monthly, so visit www.commute.com for updated
prizes.
To register for ridematching, click
here
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