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FAQs

What is Drive Less Somerset?
Drive Less Somerset is a month-long challenge that runs from June 1-June 30 that encourages and rewards individuals for using transportation options other than driving alone for work or recreation.

Who can participate in Drive Less Somerset?
Anyone 18 years of age or older who lives or works in Somerset County, NJ.

What is the process for signing up for Drive Less Somerset?
Start by signing the pledge.  You’ll receive an e-mail confirming your user name and password, and a second e-mail when your account is activated.  Then log in and track your miles starting June 1st for every one-way trip taken to start earning points.

What are the points and how do I earn them?
Individual participants earn points for each one-way trip made by sharing a ride, biking, walking, using public transit (buses and trains) and teleworking.  Each travel mode is assigned a point value.

Telecommuting – 10 points per trip
Rideshare trips (carpooling and vanpooling) – 20 points per trip
Bike, walk and transit trips – 30 points per trip

What counts as a trip?
A trip is defined as the point from which you begin your journey to the point where your journey ends, or, if teleworking, the equivalent one-way distance you would normally travel to work.

Do trips only count for work?
No, any transportation trip that replaces driving alone counts for the Drive Less Somerset challenge. The trips can be for work or recreation.

What types of transportation trips qualify for Drive Less Somerset?
The following types of trips count during Drive Less Somerset:

  • Walking (to replace a car trip only)
  • Public transportation – bus or train
  • Ridesharing – either in a carpool or in a vanpool (2 or more adult passengers in a vehicle)
  • Teleworking
  • Bicycling (to replace a car trip only)

Does everyone in my vanpool/carpool have to sign up individually, or can I sign up the whole vanpool/carpool at one time?
Each person must sign up and log their trips individually. There is not a group sign-up option for carpools or vanpools.

Does my bicycle ride to the grocery store count? How about my fitness ride with my bicycle club?
The trip to the grocery store counts because it is eliminating a drive-alone trip you would make with your car. The fitness ride is good for your health but it is not eliminating a solo car trip, so it does not count as a trip for Drive Less Somerset.

What is the weekly deadline to enter my trips and mileage for the weekly challenges?
For trips and points to be counted towards the weekly challenges, they must be tracked on your account by 11:59 pm on June7th, June 14th, June 21st and June 30th.

The weekly challenge dates are:

Week 1:  6/1 to 6/7
Week 2:  6/8 to 6/14
Week 3:  6/15 to 6/21
Week 4:  6/22 to 6/30

Did you say there are prizes?
Yes!  Individual participants can compete for weekly challenges.  The Weekly Challenge categories are:

  • Most points for ridesharing (2 or more adult passengers in a carpool or vanpool)
  • Most points for biking (to replace a car trip only)
  • Most points for walking (to replace a car trip only)
  • Most points for using transit
  • Most points for teleworking
  • Most points for all categories above combined

Please note – participants can only win once per week, per category.  Follow RideWise on social media where weekly prize winners and pop-up contests will be announced.

I’ve won a Weekly Challenge, how do I collect my prize?
Weekly Challenge winners will be posted on the RideWise Facebook page by the Friday after the week ends. Winners will also be sent an email notifying them of their award.

Can I participate in Drive Less Somerset through my employer?
Yes. Employer Challenge participants also earn points towards the weekly and grand prizes when tracking trips, and their logged trip miles count towards their overall company total.

Does my employer have to do anything to sign up?
No. Just by registering and choosing your employer under the Employer Challenge sign-up, your employer will be registered.

What do I do if I have questions during the Drive Less Somerset Challenge?
Contact Leanne McGowan at leanne@ridewise.org