Genentech's gRide Program Achieves Landmark Milestone

August 25th, 2012

Genentech's Employee Commuting Program Surpassed Major Milestone

gRide, has now saved 100 million miles of driving since the program's inception in late 2006.

The program began as a way to reduce the number of vehicles that travel to and park on the South San Francisco campus, and since has had significant impact on Genentech’s sustainability goals and employee quality of life.

"We're so pleased to offer employees', with alternative, more sustainable commute options to driving alone," said Carla Boragno, Vice President of Site Services at Genentech. "The program has become a key employee benefit and an example of sustainable business practices, all while supporting Genentech's growth in South San Francisco."

Genentech's gRide program continues to deliver good results in reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from employee commuting to South San Francisco, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions by 27% between 2009 and 2011. This improvement is due to a combination of factors, including a continued increase in the percentage of our employees using the transit options provided by Genentech's gRide program.

About the program

•   A variety of transportation options

  The gRide program encourages employees to utilize cleaner ways to commute to and from work, such as buses, bicycles, carpools and vanpools. Our bus program alone includes a fleet of more than 55 biodiesel motorcoaches and shuttles that provide over 1 million individual employee trips per year.

•   How we calculate the driving mile reduction

  The calculation is based on the number of miles an employee would have put on the road had he or she driven alone (dependent on the average commute length reported by the employee).

  For example, an employee reports an average one-way commute distance of 10 miles. If he or she bikes, walks, or telecommutes to work round-trip, it counts for a total of 20 (Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reduced per day. If the employee partakes in a two-person carpool, it is counted as 10 VMT per day; three-person carpool counts as 13.3 VMT per day.

  Public transit is credited for reducing 97.5% of an employees daily commute miles, and the shuttle system is credited for reducing 95% of an employee’s daily commute miles.

•   Impact on employees

  These days, Genentech employees regularly cite the commuter program as a favorite benefit. It saves time, money and the headache of a daily commute in the bay area.

  "The program has really been a life changer for me," says Jim Tyson, a commuter from Marin County. "Plus, I'm not just another car on a congested road adding to pollution. I'm saving time, money and energy by taking the bus."