What is Emergency Ride Home?

Emergency Ride Home is a program initiated by Smart Commute which helps commuters take sustainable modes of transportation (walking, cycling, transit and carpooling), while resting assured that they have a way to get home in urgent circumstances. A main reason that commuters do not use sustainable transit is that when an emergency arises they will have to pay for a bus or taxi for a quick ride home. Emergency Ride Home will eliminate this problem by offering ‘commuter insurance’, which will reimburse the cost of your ride home should the occasion arise (some conditions apply).

Am I eligible to Apply?

In order to be eligible to apply you must be an employee for the City of Hamilton or another
employer participating in the Emergency Ride Home program. You must also be commuting by
one of the following methods:
a. Public Transit
b. Carpooling
c. Cycling
d. Walking

How does it work?

The ERH system is a web-based registration system. You can sign-up online to be a member by
following the step-by-step instructions, available at www.emergencyridehome.ca. Once you
are registered and leave work because of an emergency, hold onto your ride receipt and file the
claim as soon as possible. You will be reimbursed up to $75 if you live within 50km of work and up
to $100 if you live over 50km from work. Please see the link above for a full list of conditions.