Penn Transit Services offers a transportation alternative that members of the University community can use when they have an emergency at home.

The Emergency Ride Home safety-net program, funded and administered through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), enables registered participants to call for a cab or rent a car in an emergency to get home from anywhere in the region. Registrants can use this service twice a year, and can be reimbursed up to $50 per trip.

“It’s designed to take the worry out of ridesharing or taking public transit by eliminating the fear of not having a vehicle in case of an emergency or working late,” says Brian Shaw, director of Penn Transit. “You pay up front for a cab or rental car, then file a claim and DVRPC will reimburse you.”

Participants must have a legitimate reason to use the program, such as a sick child, an emergency at home, or having to work after a carpool has gone or the last train has left the station.

To register, visit the Penn Transit Services website.