An April 2001 survey conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide for Xylo, Inc. of 1,000 U.S. adults found:

Nationally, employees with commuter benefits are twice as likely to use modes other than solo motoring (29% vs. 14%) and eight times more likely to use transit (15% vs. 2%) as employees without. Overall, access to commuter benefits makes a 15% difference in the modal split.

Unfortunately, employer provision of such benefits lags far behind employee demand. Of employees surveyed, 86% would like commuter benefits, which they feel they are beneficial and useful, while only 17% have access to them.

One employer that has demonstrated leadership in this capacity is the federal government. Beginning in September 2000 all Executive Branch employees in the Capital district were offered employer-paid Metrochek, pursuant to Executive Order 13150. Preliminary data on new benefit recipients indicate approximately 11% diverted from single occupancy vehicles to transit, removing 12,500 cars from Washington, D.C. roads. Currently about a third of the 350,000 eligible employees take MetroChek.

In the Manhattan central business district, about 275,000 of 1.94 million employees, or 14%, receive the TransitChek benefit, which allows them to save money on the purchase of Metrocards and other transit passes.

With more mass transportation options than any other metropolitan area, it is surprising that fewer New York employees receive TransitChek than the national average for commuter benefits. Commuter benefits are a no-brainer: employers and employees save money while easing frustrating commuters and improving air quality.These benefits should be part of standard employee compensation packages.

For information on TransitChek call 1-800-622-5000 or log onto www.transitcenter.com.