General Lab Information

Guaranteed Ride Program

People who consider joining car or vanpools worry that they will be left stranded if they must work late or an emergency arises on days they don't have their cars at work. To help alleviate this concern, 511NY Rideshare offers this program to employees who rideshare, transit, bicycle and walk. If an emergency should arise, you want to know that you can get home. This program provides security and a ride when you need it.

Eligibility

Any BNL, BNL contractor, DOE Brookhaven Area Office, or Brookhaven Area Office subcontractor employee who is an active member of a carpool, vanpool, walks or bikes and has completed the 511NY Rideshare Registration can use the service.

After successfully making rideshare arrangements with another BNL employee through a list of potential rideshare partners provided by 511NY Rideshare, employees who are new to ridesharing must complete the 511NY Rideshare Registration. If the employee is using Uber as their service provider, he/she must use the 511NY Rideshare – Guaranteed Ride Program business profile to request their ride. If the employee is using Lyft as their service provider, he/she must call 511NY Rideshare Member Support to request a Lyft ride be dispatched to BNL.

Service Rules

You may use the service when:

  • Your supervisor requests that you work beyond scheduled hours without advanced notice; or
  • The regular driver of your car/vanpool leaves work early to respond to an emergency or is required to work beyond scheduled hours without advance notice; or
  • You or a family member becomes ill or experiences a personal emergency.

The service may not be used when:

  • You need to run personal errands; or
  • You stay late for personal reasons; or
  • You have a pre-scheduled medical or dental appointment; or
  • You stay after work for recreational activities; or
  • You voluntarily work late or when you have been assigned preplanned overtime.

Procedures to Use the Program

Approved Guaranteed Ride Program members can request a ride through Uber, or Lyft; the choice is yours. Note that requesting a ride varies by partner; please see the instructions for your preferred rideshare partner below.

How do I request a ride with Uber for my Guaranteed Ride Program ride?

When you are approved for Guaranteed Ride Program, you will receive a welcome email from Uber with instructions to add the 511NY Rideshare profile to your Uber account. You must complete the steps in the email before you are able to request a Guaranteed Ride Program ride through Uber.

To order a Guaranteed Ride Program ride, please follow the steps below:

  1. Enter destination
  2. Tap on the profile switcher
  3. Switch to the "511NY Rideshare" profile

When requesting a ride, members will be prompted to enter the reason for their ride, which must be completed to qualify.

511NY Rideshare is not responsible for ride share fees, such as rider cancellations, vehicle damage, no-shows, or lost and found item returns. If you believe you have received a fee in error or need to check on the status of your ride, please contact customer service for the rideshare provider.

To use Lyft or Uber for your Guaranteed Ride Program ride or for a ride without using a mobile app

  1. Call (866) 692-6668, Monday through Friday between 6 am and before 7 pm. Our Member Support team will determine the eligibility of the ride based on the quoted trip cost, reason for the ride, and trip location.
  2. Once approved, Member Support will arrange a ride with Lyft or Uber over the phone and provide individuals with the make and model of the vehicle, license plate number, and driver name.
  3. Please be sure to note all the details before accepting the ride from the Lyft or Uber driver.

511NY Rideshare is not responsible for ride share fees, such as rider cancellations, vehicle damage, no-shows, or lost and found item returns. If you believe you have received a fee in error or need to check on the status of your ride, please contact customer service for the rideshare provider.

Will I ever be charged for my rides?

Members will never be charged for their rides unless they exceed the per year allotment or if a ride does not qualify within the list of valid emergency reasons. 511NY Rideshare is not responsible for ride share fees, such as rider cancellations, vehicle damage, no-shows, or lost and found item returns. If you believe you have received a fee in error or need to check on the status of your ride, please contact customer service for the rideshare provider.


Members are responsible for any amount more than the per year allotment.

Additional information regarding the Guaranteed Ride Program can be found on the 511NY Rideshare website.