History

1981

Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce
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January 1981

Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored COMPOOL, the South's first non-profit ridesharing program. COMPOOL was fueled by the gas crisis of the late '70s and heightened public awareness of environmental concerns.

1983

COMPOOL used the first-ever computerized system to arrange commuter carpools, and turned
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April 1983

COMPOOL used the first-ever computerized system to arrange commuter carpools, and turned vanpool vision into a reality.

1985

COMPOOL changed its name to RideFinders, and joined forces with the Central Richmond
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July 1985

COMPOOL changed its name to RideFinders, and joined forces with the Central Richmond Association to develop the country's first downtown parking and commuter information service.

1987

Marked the initiation of vans, mini-buses, and subscription bus service to Kings Dominion -- the start
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March 1987

Marked the initiation of vans, mini-buses, and subscription bus service to Kings Dominion -- the start of the landmark Capital Area Training Consortium Vanpool program, which helped arrange transportation for people who needed it most.

1990

Work began on the Transportation Allowance program to coordinate commuter-oriented
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September 1990

Work began on the Transportation Allowance program to coordinate commuter-oriented fringe benefits offered by Richmond Region employers. The Guaranteed Ride Home was introduced to allow ridesharing commuters who may need to leave work early or stay late a way to get home by taxi, and RideFinders would reimburse most of the cost. The first Employers Transportation Management Association was developed.

1991

RideFinders assisted GRTC Transit System in starting the Transit Fare Subsidy Program.
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March 1991

RideFinders assisted GRTC Transit System in starting the Transit Fare Subsidy Program.

1994

Commuter Store opened on East Main Street in Richmond. RideFinders teamed
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May 1994

Commuter Store opened on East Main Street in Richmond. RideFinders teamed up with the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond to form the Ozone Advisory Program.

1998

Commuter Store opened on East Main Street in Richmond. RideFinders teamed
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July 1998

Commuter Store opened on East Main Street in Richmond. RideFinders teamed up with the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond to form the Ozone Advisory Program.

1999

RideFinders implemented the Commonwealth Commuter Choice
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April 1999

RideFinders implemented the Commonwealth Commuter Choice program, that provides state employees with vanpool vouchers and transit tickets.

2000

Convened meetings of the Vanpool Advisory Committee, a bike-pedestrian study, and
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March 2000

Convened meetings of the Vanpool Advisory Committee, a bike-pedestrian study, and the first series of ETC roundtable discussions.

2001

"Get Aware of Your Air" initiative educates a whole new generation to the dangers of
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January 2001

"Get Aware of Your Air" initiative educates a whole new generation to the dangers of ground-level ozone.

2003

Partnered with Mechanicsville Honda to give away a Honda Civic Hybrid to a
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May 2003

Partnered with Mechanicsville Honda to give away a Honda Civic Hybrid to a participant in the carpool program.

2005

First Try Transit Day partnership with GRTC Transit System. Bike Program launched
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July 2005

First Try Transit Day partnership with GRTC Transit System.  Bike Program launched with Clean Air Campaign Bike Challenge to encourage participants to ride their bikes at least one day a week.  Partnered with Agee’s Bicycles to provide loaner bikes for the first 250 Bike Challenge participants to register.

2006

After 25 years RideFinders continues to assist the public and organizations about
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January 2006

After 25 years RideFinders continues to assist the public and organizations about the link between transportation choices and overall quality of life in the Central Virginia region.

2007

Team RideFinders launched.
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June 2007

Team RideFinders launched.

2008

Launched NuRide (Rideshare Incentive Program). Partnered with Theater IV to educate
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January 2008

Launched NuRide (Rideshare Incentive Program). Partnered with Theater IV to educate elementary school students about air quality and the environment through the play, “The Air We Share.”  The performance message was tailored to coincide with the science requirements of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).  Launched Team RideFinders Clean Air Heroes comic book as a supplement to the play.

2010

Over 42 companies participate in the Telework!VA program.
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August 2010

Over 42 companies participate in the Telework!VA program.

2011

RideFinders 30th Anniversary; moved to a new location, launched its Long-Range
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October 2011

RideFinders 30th Anniversary; moved to a new location, launched its Long-Range Transportation Demand Management Plan.

2012

Began accepting credit cards for purchases.
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February 2012

Began accepting credit cards for purchases.

2013

Expanded product line by partnering with VDOT and RMA to sell EZ Pass transponders
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February 2013

Expanded product line by partnering with VDOT and RMA to sell EZ Pass transponders, the only vendor with onsite registration capabilities for the product.

2013

Produced region wide Public Service Announcement partnership with DEQ.
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May 2013

Produced region wide Public Service Announcement partnership with DEQ.

2013

Along with Richmond 2015, created Charter 2015, a program that recognizes RVA
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September 2013

Along with Richmond 2015, created Charter 2015, a program that recognizes RVA employers who encourage their employees to consider biking as a commute option, as well as make their business site more bicycle friendly to their employees and visitors.

2014

Launched RideFinders On the Move mobile application; launched
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May 2014

Launched RideFinders On the Move mobile application; launched GreenRide, an interactive ridematching system, participated in Ozone Advance Program.