<h1>Guaranteed Ride Home Participant Agreement</h1> <h1>Guaranteed Ride Home Participant Agreement</h1>

Guaranteed Ride Home Participant Agreement

The Guaranteed Ride Home program reimburses commuters who choose to carpool, vanpool, take transit, bike, or walk to work for an emergency ride home up to three times per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). Enrolled participants can take a taxi, rideshare service such as Lyft or UberX, rental car, car share, or transit ride home, and be reimbursed for the cost of the ride up to $100.

Participant Agreement

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program Agreement (Agreement) sets forth the terms, conditions, and responsibilities of a participant (Participant) in the GRH program.

By participating in the GRH program, the Participant acknowledges and agrees to abide by this Agreement and any subsequent updates or amendments.

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) retains the right to discontinue Participant enrollment and terminate this Agreement immediately or withhold reimbursement claims, pursue claims, demands, or lawsuits against, or seek prosecution of any Participant for inappropriate use of the GRH program. Any inappropriate use of the GRH program will require that the Participant reimburse all expenses incurred to SANDAG.

Participant acknowledges that SANDAG does NOT cover certain expenses associated, as explained in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Participant shall be considered a volunteer under the law. Participant acknowledges that participation in the GRH program is strictly voluntary and that such participation is not acting in or required by the course and scope of official company business, nor does it in any manner establish an employer-employee or agency relationship with SANDAG.

The Agreement shall be effective as of the date the Participant joins the GRH program and will be terminated on June 30, 2025. Participants must reregister and sign the Agreement every year in order to participate in the program.

The Participant, in consideration of the request and permission to participate in the GRH program, hereby assumes full responsibility and all risk of injury or loss, including death, which may result from participation in the GRH program and hereby agrees to hold harmless, release, waive, forever discharge, and covenant not to sue or bring claims against SANDAG, its officers, agents, or employees, by reason of accident, illness, injury, or death, damage to, loss, or destruction of any property arising or resulting directly or indirectly from the Participant's participation in the GRH program and occurring during said participation, or any time subsequent thereto, whether or not such loss, injury, or death is caused, or alleged to be caused, in whole or in part, by the negligent acts or omissions of SANDAG, its officers, agents, or employees. The terms of this release shall serve as a release and assumption of risks for the Participant's heirs, executors, administrators, and for all the Participant's family members.

The Participant agrees to follow the terms of the SANDAG Privacy Policy.

By enrolling, the Participant acknowledges that they have read the foregoing paragraphs and have been fully advised of the potential risks incidental to engaging in the GRH program. Further, the Participant understands and acknowledges that the GRH program may be changed or canceled at any time, without obligation, at the sole discretion of SANDAG.

Frequently Asked Questions

To be eligible, you must work in San Diego County and submit the enrollment form in advance.

Do not wait until you need an emergency ride home to enroll in the GRH program. You may only register yourself and the same email address cannot be used to register for the GRH program more than one person. Registration is required on an annual basis. When it is time to renew your registration in the GRH program, SANDAG will send you a notice via email. Once you have registered for the program or renewed your registration for the new fiscal year, SANDAG will send you an email confirmation within three business days.

SANDAG will accommodate persons who require assistance to participate in SANDAG programs. If you do not have internet access and would like to enroll in the GRH program, dial 511 and select option 5.

Registered Participants may be reimbursed for rides home or to the location of their parked car (e.g., Park & Ride lot, carpool partner’s home), under the following qualifying circumstances:

  • Personal or family emergency
  • Carpool or vanpool ride is unavailable due to unexpected changes in the driver’s schedule or vehicle breakdown
  • Stranded at work due to a bike problem (e.g., flat tire, mechanical failure, vandalism, theft)
  • Unexpected overtime (e.g., Participant was not aware of the situation before the start of the workday)

Each registered participant may request reimbursement for up to three separate trips between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Once the Participant has received reimbursement for three trips, they cannot request additional reimbursements until July 1, 2025.

Participants must re-enroll each year.

The GRH program cannot be used for:

  • Transit service disruptions and/ or delays
  • Rides originating from somewhere other than your work location
  • Personal errands, scheduled appointments, business-related travel, nonemergency side trips, weather-related events, or any other situation not included in the qualifying circumstances

Any trip taken for one of these purposes, or without being registered prior to a ride, will not be covered by SANDAG.

We do not reimburse rides taken on upgraded services or larger vehicles on Lyft or Uber. The Participant will be held responsible for payment and removed from the GRH program.

When using a taxi or rideshare service (such as UberX or Lyft Standard), SANDAG will cover eligible trips up to $100. The Participant is responsible for paying the driver gratuity and any base cost exceeding $100.

When using a rental car, SANDAG will only cover the rental for a 24-hour period up to $100. The registered Participant, as the renter, will be responsible for any additional charges that exceed this period. For example, if the rental is obtained on a Friday, SANDAG will not cover any costs for Saturday or Sunday. Costs associated with drop-off, fuel, or vehicle damage will not be covered by SANDAG. In addition, the renter must be at least 25 years old and meet all other standard rental requirements with the selected rental car agency.

In an emergency, you can decide the best method for getting home from work. After your emergency ride, submit a request to be reimbursed for your expenses.

To be reimbursed for a GRH trip, registered program participants must take the following steps:

  1. Pay for the eligible ride home and obtain a receipt. The receipt or rental agreement must include the date of service, service provider, and an itemized breakdown of any relevant costs (such as fuel, base fare, and other extras), as well as the GRH Participant name and the name of the rideshare driver.
  2. Submit a GRH Reimbursement Form to SANDAG within 30 days. Reimbursement forms must include the receipt or rental agreement. Reimbursement request forms must be completed at SANDAG.org/GRH or mailed to SANDAG at 1129 La Media Road, San Diego, CA 92154. Any requests received after 30 days will not be eligible for reimbursement.
    1.  If you can’t access the online reimbursement form, you may request a paper form by phone: Dial 511 and select option 5. Or visit us in person at 1129 La Media Road, San Diego, CA.
  3. Reimbursement checks will be mailed within 45 calendar days of receiving your request. If a participant is found to have falsified any portion of their request for reimbursement, SANDAG will deny the request and the participant may be terminated from the program.

Resources

Guaranteed Ride Home Enrollment Form

Guaranteed Ride Home Reimbursement Form