Please note: This program is now closed.
The Essential Worker Ride Home program provides a reliable and safe taxi ride home from work for essential employees commuting to and within San Francisco, helping to fill the gap left by reductions in public transportation services.
Program overview
The program will cover the cost of taxi rides home for essential employees in San Francisco, up to ten (10) rides per month, per person, and up to $70 per ride. Participants must first submit an application to verify need and intended use. Once approved, participants can take an official taxi for eligible trips, paid for by the City and County of San Francisco.
Please carefully review the eligibility requirements below. You must meet both the eligible participant and eligible trip requirements to qualify.
Who is eligible to participate?
To be eligible, you must:
- Commute one-way to or from work via a sustainable mode of transportation, such as taking public transit, walking, biking, or carpooling.
- Work for an essential business in San Francisco, performing an essential job function. This includes City and County of San Francisco employees performing essential job functions and/or serving as a Disaster Service Worker.
- Certify that your employer or another entity does not already provide transportation benefits that include travel to or from work.
What is an eligible trip?
- Rides home from work must originate at the employee’s work location in San Francisco and end at their home, a transit stop that will take them home, or the location of their parked car (e.g. park-and-ride lot, transit parking lot, etc.).
- Rides to work must originate at the employee’s home address or location of their parked car (e.g. park-and-ride lot, transit parking lot, etc.) and end at their work location in San Francisco.
- Trips must be taken in the direction stated in your application. For example, if you are approved for the program for rides home from work, you may not use the program for rides to work.
- Trips must be taken while transit options are limited or unavailable due to emergency-related transit service reductions. Review the Coronavirus Transportation Impacts (511) for the latest information.
- Trips must be made via official taxi (SFMTA). Meter fare, service fees, and toll fees are all eligible for reimbursement. Tips will not be reimbursed.
- Rides with Transportation Network Companies, such as Uber and Lyft, are not eligible for reimbursement.
How do I get reimbursed for my ride?
Based on applicant information, participants will receive detailed instructions on how ride payments and reimbursements will be processed.
How long does the program last?
The program will be available to essential workers until further notice and is subject to evaluation and modification based on updates to public transportation schedules and operations, program funding, and/or status of the shelter-in-place order.
How many people will this program serve?
Applications will be evaluated and accepted on a rolling basis. San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFE) staff will monitor demand and work with the San Francisco County Transportation Authority to evaluate utilization trends and introduce program modifications, should the need arise.
How much can I be reimbursed?
To maximize the number of people who can be served, there is a cap of 10 trips per person, per month and up to $70 per trip. If reimbursement requests exceed the $70 per trip limit, the participant will receive up to $70 in reimbursement for qualifying expenses and will be responsible for the remainder of the ride cost.
How do I get a taxi?
You can hail taxis, including ramp taxis, on the street, by telephone, or by the Flywheel app. Details on all San Francisco taxi companies are available on the SFMTA website.
What if I experience an emergency while at work?
The City of San Francisco’s Emergency Ride Home program will continue to be available to individuals who work in San Francisco, and all requests will continue to be evaluated based on the program's eligibility criteria.
Program Resources
Contact Information
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Dial 3-1-1 (within SF) or 415-701-2311 (TTY 415-701-2323)
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Funded By:
