New transportation initiative arrives at Riverside City College

A new electric car sharing service will arrive at Riverside City College, meant to provide greener and cheaper means of transportation. 

The purpose of the rental service is to provide students access to these electric cars through a simple app on their smartphones and for five dollars per hour. 

The program is being run via the EBDide program under climate-related projects in California, all reaching the same goal, to ensure clean transportation systems. 

Scholars will be able to use their debit card via the app to pay for their rides. The process is completely digital, meaning the accessibility is increased for students as there is no physical interaction such as visiting the counter to fill out papers.

The program will be officially released next Fall and students will find the cars parked in Parking Lot C near the Charles A. Kane Building. Fellow students are excited for this uprising for accessible transportation.

“It’s perfect for those long days when I need to run errands but have breaks during my classes” Lorelei Mason mentions. Showcasing how these cars can be used for last minute needs. 

“The main goal for promoting the program is affordability,” said a program representative during a campus event promoting the car.

 “RCC is doing everything it can to help reduce barriers for students to succeed.” 

All vehicles in the fleet are completely electric to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere. It also provides the benefit of money saving from increased fuel prices. 

The initiative is ran via the EBDide program under climate related projects in California, all reaching the same goal, to ensure clean transportation systems. “That is why the entire fleet is 100% electric.”  

This project has been years of planning and in the making, as organizers plan to establish the program in 2020 when the state awarded the college a grant to make transportation needs assessments. 

This initiative will also be established at Moreno Valley College and Norco College as well, expanding the transportation service all throughout the campuses. 

Organizers aim to encourage the use of the cars to go back and forth between colleges as well. 

For students who might be nervous about their experience when it comes to an electric vehicle, a trial run is provided for free of charge for one hour.