History

2025

February 2025

Recognition with Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) as an Accredited Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Organization by the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT).

2019

November 2019

Won a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air Excellence Award for Transportation Efficiency Innovations for its RideFinders Commute Green Summer Challenge.

2014

May 2014

Launched RideFinders on the Move mobile application.

2013

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.

2013

February 2013

Expanded the product line by partnering with VDOT and RMA to sell EZ Pass transponders.

2011

October 2011

Moved to a new location during the 30th Anniversary of RideFinders. Launched its first ever Long-Range Transportation Demand Management Plan.

January 2008

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.

June 2007

Launched Team RideFinders heroes.

July 2005

Launched 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.

May 2003

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

January 2001

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

April 1999

Implemented the Commonwealth Commuter Choice program that provided state employees with vanpool vouchers and transit tickets.

July 1998

Opened the Commuter Store 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.

March 1991

Assisted GRTC Transit System in starting the Transit Fare Subsidy Program.

September 1990

Started the Transportation Allowance program to coordinate commuter-oriented fringe benefits offered by Richmond Region employers. Introduced the Guaranteed Ride Home which 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.

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.

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.

April 1983

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

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.