SCORE!

The ability to change the way things work can take place in as little as two weeks.
My colleagues at work, seemingly intrigued with my COTA challenge started asking questions.
“How long does it take?”
“Where does the bus stop?”
“Where would I catch it if I live….?”
There’s also been plenty of jokes about my ridership too, but today, the jokes stopped.

I poked around our HR intranet site and found out that my employer offers a wide array of transit options, particularly in larger cities. A little note on the bottom of one of the site stated to contact my HR representative should there be any questions. So I did.

Today, I received links to sign up for a transit subsidy, compliments of my employer. Within a few minutes my enrollment was complete, and I’ll be receiving my monthly COTA pass delivered to my home each month, every month, beginning in March. They only ask that we use public transit a minimum of twice a week to continue receiving the subsidy.

For years I’ve been hoping to offer this benefit to my employees, but previous employers had no interest, shunning the idea, or simply shrugging their shoulders over the idea. Now, twenty-four hours after the inquiry, we have it. Ecstatic, I told one of my bus-riding colleagues, and word spread fast. Within thirty minutes of my enrollment, four other’s had signed up.

I followed up with information about COTA’s Guaranteed Ride Home program, and
the room got quiet very quickly as ears perked.
“So, if I have to stay late for any reason, I’ll get reimbursed for taking a taxi home?”
“You got it! It’s a maximum of four reimbursements per year, at 90%, including tip”.
“Are you serious?”
“Indeed, I am”.

What has happened today started seven years ago when I was planning for my move to Columbus. It meant looking for a house near the bus lines. It meant making sure I would be living in a neighborhood that was walkable, offering easy access to amenities such as the grocery, restaurants and bars, the hardware store and library. It meant knowing how to get around without having to depend on my car. I was ecstatic today knowing that my planning was, indeed, correct.

Tonight, my colleague Trenton and I rode the same bus home. I asked him why he prefers taking the bus to work.
“It’s just easier. I put the bike on the rack, get on and just chill out”.
He lives about a half mile from the line to work, so rather than make a connection, he just bikes to the stop.
“By the time I get home, I’m completely relaxed. I love it”.