RideShark Empowers Organizations and Cities to Enhance Commuter Access, Lower Parking Costs, and Reduce GHG Emissions via Its Smart Platform

For nearly two decades, RideShark, founded in 2002 and based in Ottawa, has been a key player in the commuter management sector without extensive brand recognition. As a white-labeled platform, it helps employers mitigate traffic congestion, lower emissions, and enhance access to sustainable transportation options. Sharon Lewinson, President, CEO, and co-founder, emphasizes the necessity of improving sustainable commuting methods: "We can’t just keep building roads and having people sit in traffic."

The urgency of this mission is underscored by statistics from Toronto, where commuters lost an estimated 77 hours to traffic in 2024, contributing to over $11 billion in annual productivity losses due to congestion. Lewinson notes the importance of making public transit, carpooling, and cycling accessible for everyone to encourage a shift towards sustainable travel modes.

RideShark’s platform serves as a comprehensive solution for commuting needs. Users can plan trips, find carpool partners, track emissions and kilometers saved, earn rewards for green commuting, and participate in challenges to reduce solo traveling. This suite of features makes it easy for users to access all their transportation options with just one click through various platforms, including desktop and mobile apps.

The platform has evolved to encompass multimodal trip planning, dynamic carpooling, trip logging, incentive programs, emergency rides home, and more. Innovative features like GPS and Bluetooth carpool verification allow companies to track carpooling efficiently, enabling them to reward employees for choosing sustainable commuting methods. Employers are increasingly incentivizing their workforce to avoid driving, with some organizations directly linking reward systems to payrolls for sustainable commuting days.

The rise of hybrid work in Canada has fueled interest in RideShark’s services. By early 2023, hybrid job listings had increased markedly, while fully remote positions became less common. Employers, recognizing the need for efficient transport options, have turned to RideShark to implement programs across various municipalities, universities, corporate campuses, and hospitals throughout Canada and the U.S.

RideShark particularly excels in regions with limited transit services, helping organizations encourage sustainable commuting methods. Parking costs can be prohibitive, with underground spots in Toronto costing between $140 and $450 monthly, prompting businesses to seek solutions that improve employee accessibility without incurring high costs.

Lewinson highlights that addressing transportation needs is critical for diverse employee demographics, as many individuals may lack car ownership. This is increasingly relevant as cities aim to enhance public transit, carpooling, and active commuting options as part of their growth strategies. RideShark assists in achieving these goals while allowing partners to monitor their environmental impacts, especially as transportation accounts for a significant portion of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The platform's utility extends internationally to over 30 million people, offering customizable features that prioritize data privacy—a crucial factor for Canadian organizations, as all data is hosted in Canada. This compliance with local privacy regulations fosters user trust.

As the focus on sustainability, urban density, and hybrid work models intensifies, RideShark’s importance in commute management grows. Lewinson asserts the affordability and sustainability of living in communities without the necessity of a car, establishing that accessible transportation options are essential for future urban living.

RideShark's Unified Mobility™ platform is continuously expanding, aimed at bolstering an efficient, sustainable commuting ecosystem. By presenting a scalable and measurable solution, RideShark stands out as a crucial player in combatting transportation emissions and fostering effective urban mobility. With a vision tailored for Canada, it presents organizations with the tools necessary to embrace sustainable commuting practices.