• Illness or crisis for you or a family member, including threats to personal safety
• Carpool or vanpool ride is not available because of changes in the driver's schedule or if the vehicle is not working
• Bicycle problem including flat tire, mechanical problem, vandalism, or theft
• Home emergency, such as a break-in, fire, flood, or other emergency that occurs at your home
• Required overtime that you did not know about before the start of the workday

Trips/Emergencies that you CANNOT get paid back for:

• Personal errands or pre-planned medical appointments
• Emergencies that you need an ambulance for
• Business-related travel
• Overtime that was planned or known about before the start of the workday, or was not allowed by a supervisor
• Natural disasters or civic emergencies (e.g. earthquake, demonstration, etc.)
• Transit service breakdown or stop in service
• Transportation to a doctor or hospital because of an on-the-job injury (Emergency Ride Home cannot be used to replace an employer's legal responsibility under workers' compensation regulations)
• Non-emergency related side trips on the way home
• Rides taken by Uber, Lyft, Waymo, or any other non-taxi private ride service

• All employees who work in San Francisco, and arrived to work by walking, biking, transit, scooter, or carpool on the day of the emergency
• You must be 18 years or older at the time of the taxi ride to get paid back

Take an official taxi or public transportation for your emergency ride home. You CANNOT get paid back for an Uber, Lyft, Waymo, or any other non-taxi private ride service.

Call an official taxi or download one of the following apps to order a taxi when you need a ride: 

Tip: If you have a bike problem and need to bring your bike on your emergency taxi ride home, make sure to let the dispatcher know and they can send for a wheelchair accessible cab that can support bikes. Please keep in mind that priority is given to those in wheelchairs. SUV's can also support bikes if the bike can fit. Check out the SFMTA's Taxi and Ramp Taxi Directory to learn more.
 

Trips must start at the employee's work location in San Francisco and can end at home, a transit stop, or the place that their car is parked (e.g. park-and-ride lot, carpool partner's home, etc.) either in or outside of San Francisco.  

You must have arrived to work by walking, biking, transit, scooter, or carpool on the day of the emergency. 

Side trips on your way home that have to do with the emergency are allowed, including picking up a sick child at school or daycare, getting a prescription at a pharmacy or stopping at an ATM for cash to pay the taxi driver. 

Trips that you CANNOT get paid back for:

• Personal errands or pre-planned medical appointments 
• Emergencies that you need an ambulance for
• Business-related travel 
• Overtime that was planned or known about before the start of the workday, or was not allowed by a supervisor
• Natural disasters or civic emergencies (e.g. earthquake, demonstration, etc.) 
• Transit service breakdown or stop in service 
• Transportation to a doctor or hospital because of an on-the-job injury (Emergency Ride Home cannot be used to replace an employer's legal responsibility under workers' compensation regulations)
• Non-emergency related side trips on the way home 
• Rides taken by Uber, Lyft, Waymo, or any other non-taxi private ride service

Send us your receipts and the reason for your Emergency Ride Home using this form.

Employees can get paid back up to $150 (not including tips) for taxi rides per emergency. If your taxi ride(s) and/or transit ride(s) for a given emergency cost over $150 in total, you will receive up to $150 but will have to pay the rest yourself. Taxi rides can get paid back for up to four emergencies per year.

Q: What is the SF Emergency Ride Home program? 

A: The SF Emergency Ride Home program provides reimbursement for emergency taxi or public transit rides home for employees who commute to work in San Francisco using sustainable transportation methods (walking, biking, transit, scooter, or carpool).

Q: Who is eligible for the program? 

A: Employees who commute to work in San Francisco by walking, biking, transit, scooter, or carpool are eligible. You must be 18 years or older at the time of the emergency ride. You do not need to live in San Francisco.

Q: What qualifies as an emergency? 

A: Emergencies include illness or crisis, carpool or vanpool ride unavailability, bicycle problems, home emergencies, required overtime, and other personal emergencies. Emergencies that DO NOT qualify include: natural disasters, civic emergencies, transit stoppages and delays, emergencies that you need an ambulance for, and transportation to a doctor or hospital because of an on-the-job injury (this should be covered by workers' compensation.)

Q: How much can I get reimbursed?

 A: You can get reimbursed up to $150 per emergency, up to four times per year. Tips are not included in the reimbursement.

Q: What types of transportation qualify for reimbursement? 

A: Only official taxis and public transportation qualify for reimbursement. Uber, Lyft, and Waymo rides are not eligible.

Q: How do I get reimbursed? 

A: Pay for your taxi or public transit ride and save your receipt. Submit your receipt and the reason for your emergency ride within 30 days of the trip using the provided form.

Q: Can I take side trips during my emergency ride home? 

A: Yes, you can take up to two emergency-related side trip, such as picking up a sick child from school, getting needed medication from a pharmacy, or stopping at an ATM for cash.

Q: Can I bring my bike on my emergency taxi ride home?

A: Yes, participants are allowed to bring their bikes on their emergency taxi ride home, subject to the taxi's capacity and the taxi driver's consent. The best way to make sure the car called can support bikes is to request one directly over the phone. Wheelchair accessible cars can support bikes, but priority is given to those in wheelchairs. SUV's can also support bikes if the bike can fit. Check out the SFMTA's Taxi and Ramp Taxi Directory to learn more.

Q: Where can I find more information or contact the program? 

A: For more information, contact us via email at [email protected] or call (415) 355-3702.