Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smart commute?
Carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus, bicycling, walking, working
from home, and compressed work schedules are all forms of smart
commuting.
What makes a smart commute so smart?
When employees exercise their smart commute options, some of the ways they can benefit are:
- Reduced cost for fuel, insurance, vehicle wear-and-tear, and maintenance expenses. To see how much you could save, use the commute cost calculator.
- Reduced stress
- Additional time to read, relax, or talk
- Faster commutes on freeway HOV lanes
- Combined exercise and commute time (with walking or bicycling)
- Stewardship of community and environment
Some of the ways PLU benefits from faculty and staff using smart commute options are:
- Increased employee retention
- Decreased employee stress
- Reduced demand for parking
- Compliance with state Commute Trip Reduction goals.
Does working from home count as "smart commute" days?
Yes, workdays on which a faculty or staff member works from home
instead of coming to campus count as a "smart commute" for benefits
programs such as Relax Rewards and Lute Bucks Rewards. Work-from-home
arrangements are usually made on a case-by-case basis and must be
pre-approved by your supervisor.
Do scheduled days off (vacation or holidays) count as "smart commute" days?
No, scheduled days off do not count as smart commute days for benefits
programs such as Relax Rewards and Lute Bucks Rewards. But you can count
the day off from a compressed work week, such as a four-day,
ten-hours-per-day work week.
How do I sign up for benefits with the Commute Smart program?
Recieving Commute Smart benefits is fast and easy! To receive Lute Bucks
Rewards, Relax Rewards benefits, and to be included in quarterly
drawings, simply track your commute on a monthly Relax Rewards
calendar. Calendars are also available from the University Transportation
Coordinator, Jennifer Wamboldt, at ehs@plu.edu or 253-535-7233. Please
note that these benefits are for faculty and staff only; not students.
For detailed information on how to get a discounted bus pass, click here.
To request preferred carpool parking privileges, you must fill out the Application for Preferred Carpool Parking in the Campus Safety office.
For help with a Ridematch, check out RideshareOnline.com or contact University Transportation Coordinator, Jennifer Wamboldt.
What is Relax Rewards and how do I sign up?
Relax Rewards is another way of smart commuting with the added benefit of drawings, prizes, and other monthly opportunities.
You can earn one point for every workday you choose a
relaxing smart commute option. As your points add up, you earn more
chances to win great quarterly prizes like Visa gift cards!
If you are a full time smart commuter (4 or more times per week),
you're guaranteed to win a "Premium Dream Reward" each quarter--a movie
ticket, coffee or ice cream certificate, or another fun surprise! After
all, you deserve it!
Participating in the Relax Rewards program is simple--just start
tracking your smart commute using the Relax Rewards calendar, available
from Jennifer Wamboldt. As an added benefit, these calendars also
qualify you for PLU's Lute Bucks Rewards program.
Why can't students sign up for Relax Rewards, Lute Bucks Rewards, and other Commute Smart prizes?
Many of the benefits of the Commute Smart program (Relax Rewards,
Lute Bucks Rewards, etc.) were developed as part of PLU's mandatory
compliance with Washington State's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) law
(RCW 70.94.521-551). The law, passed in 1991 as part of the state's
Clean Air Act, requires affected employers (such as PLU) to establish
programs that encourage employees to find alternatives to drive-alone
commuting. The purpose of the CTR law is to improve air quality, reduce
traffic congestion, and minimize energy consumption. Because the law
applies to employees, so too do many of PLU's benefit programs.
There are programs open to commuter students. If students meet the program qualifications, they can receive PLU's bus pass discount and preferred carpool parking.
Do I have to use my smart commute option every single day?
Choosing a smart commute option does not mean being locked into one
mode of travel. It is not necessary to use a smart commute option every
day to qualify for our programs.
Each program has its own set of requirements. For example, Guaranteed
Ride Home is available anytime you use a smart commute option. You
can qualify for Lute Bucks Rewards by choosing a smart commute just for
four days a month. Check the individual program you are interested in
to find out what the requirements are for that program.
Do I qualify for the bus pass discount ($36 off the monthly pass)?
For detailed information on who qualifies for PLU's discounted bus pass, click here.
Do I qualify for carpool benefits if I carpool with a family member?
Carpooling regularly (at least three days per week) with any person who
is 16 years of age or older qualifies you for carpool benefits. For
detailed rules on eligibility for preferred carpool parking, see Campus Safety's carpool web page.
Do I have to carpool with another PLU faculty or staff member to qualify for carpool benefits?
Your carpool partner can be any person 16 years of age or older. Your
carpool partner does not have to be a PLU employee for you to receive
the benefits of having a registered carpool. For detailed rules on
eligibility for preferred carpool, see Campus Safety's carpool webpage.
What is a Compressed Work Week?
A compressed work week is a type of schedule the reduces the number of
days that an employee works in a given period. The number of hours that
an employee works does not change, however, the distribution of these
hours are changed. For more information about Compressed Work Weeks and
Working From Home, please visit our Commute Smart Alternative & Links Page.
For more information about Commute Smart PLU please email ehs@plu.edu or call (253) 535-7233
