511NY Rideshare

What 511NY Rideshare does

511NY Rideshare is a free, statewide mobility-matching service operated by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) since 2010. It serves all 62 New York counties and has accumulated more than 100,000 registered members, functioning as a public alternative to commercial rideshare platforms for commute reduction, vanpool/carpool formation, and multimodal trip planning. The platform is delivered through a web interface, the 511NY Rideshare mobile app, and Interactive Mobility Kiosks, and is integrated with New York's broader 511 traveler information ecosystem that includes MTA, NYC Ferry, and Clean Air NY data feeds. Core features include carpool and vanpool ridematching, a Guaranteed Ride Program for emergency ride-home coverage, telework guidance, preferred-parking coordination, bike-buddy matching, and a community-mapping and gamification layer. Employer, university, and municipal partners — most prominently Northwell Health (72,000 employees), SUNY Farmingdale, Suffolk County Community College, the City of New Rochelle, and Montefiore — use the platform to deliver commute programs to their workforces and student bodies.

The business model is non-commercial: 511NY Rideshare is funded through NYSDOT's public budget and is offered at zero cost to individual members, employers, and partner institutions. There are no subscription fees, no advertising placements, and no transaction-based revenue. Cumulative impact metrics — 414 million vehicle-miles reduced and 166,194 tons of CO2 avoided since 2010 — are used as program-justification and grant-accounting KPIs rather than commercial performance indicators. Employer services have evolved from pure ridematching into an advisory layer (Employer Transportation Coordinator support, worksite parking deployment, commute-survey analysis), but these remain free engagements bundled into the program.

The technology stack is a relatively conventional web-and-mobile application with ridematching, trip-planning, and impact-calculation modules. Telework guidance, bike-buddy matching, and community mapping extend the surface area beyond motorized carpooling. Strategic positioning has shifted toward event-scale mobility coordination, with the program publicly preparing for FIFA World Cup 2026 across New York host cities. New product lines under development or recent launch — Bike Bus, Bike Borrow, and Community Mapping — indicate a pivot from pure commute matching toward an integrated active-and-shared mobility platform, while the long-standing partnership network with transit agencies, regional employers, and active-transportation nonprofits provides a distribution backbone that commercial entrants would struggle to replicate.

Name

511NY Rideshare

Legal name

511NY Rideshare (operated by the New York State Department of Transportation)

Website

https://511nyrideshare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

511NY Rideshare is a free, statewide mobility-matching program operated by the New York State Department of Transportation since 2010, serving 100,000+ members across all 62 New York counties with carpool/vanpool ridematching, transit trip planning, and Guaranteed Ride Program coverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Demand Management Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889), Taxi and Ridesharing Services (485310)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDALAKAJ

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) & Commute Programs

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Transportation, Parking & Mobility Services

SECONDARYTHAIAGAC

Ridepooling & Shared Rides (Dynamic Carpooling)

Travel & Hospitality/Rail, Bus & Ground Passenger Transport/On-Demand Ride Services (Taxi/Ride-hailing/Ridepooling)

SECONDARYTLABALAF

Ride-Hailing / On-Demand Mobility for Business (Managed Ground Transport)

Transportation & Logistics/Fleet Leasing, Rental & Management/Corporate Mobility & Car Sharing / Pool Fleet Management

Keywords

• Rideshare matching services
• Commuter carpool programs
• Public transit planning
• Transportation demand management
• Sustainable commuting programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Program (No Commercial Revenue): 511NY Rideshare is a free program fully funded by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). There is no revenue model from end users — all services are provided at no cost. The program is part of a state-level Transportation Demand Management (TDM) initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

511NY Rideshare is a free government-sponsored Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program operated by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). It provides carpool and vanpool ridematching, a Guaranteed Ride Program (emergency ride reimbursement up to $300/year), transit trip planning, telework guidance, the 511 Mobility App for tracking savings and emissions, and community engagement programs such as Bike Bus and Bike Borrow, serving commuters, employers, colleges/universities, municipalities, and property managers across all 62 New York State counties.

Product overview

511NY Rideshare is a free program funded by the New York State Department of Transportation that serves as a comprehensive mobility platform offering multiple interconnected services. The core product portfolio includes the 511 Mobility App for tracking savings, Transit Trip Planner, Park and Ride Locator, Electric Vehicle Station Locator, and Statewide Construction News for real-time travel information. The service also encompasses ridematching for carpools and vanpools, the Guaranteed Ride Program as backup insurance for commuters, and the Telework Program for remote work guidance. Community engagement features include the Community Mobilization Project with achievement badges, Bike Bus organized cycling groups, and Bike Borrow free bike lending. The affiliated Clean Air NY sub-brand addresses air quality awareness. The platform provides specialized consulting services for employers (Preferred Parking, Commuter Benefits), colleges and universities (campus ridematching), property managers (transportation amenities), and municipalities (event coordination, mobility pilots). Recent additions include FIFA World Cup 2026 transportation planning for the anticipated surge in visitors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 511 Mobility App: Mobile application that shows how much money and carbon emissions users save by commuting using sustainable modes (carpool, vanpool, transit, walking, and biking).
• 511NY

Products and services

• 511 Mobility App
• Park and Ride Lots
• Transit Trip Planner
• Electric Vehicle Station Locator Interactive map tool that displays electric vehicle charging station locations throughout New York State to support EV commuters.
• Statewide Construction News Real-time information tool providing updates on construction projects and road conditions across New York State to help commuters plan alternate routes.
• Vanpool Program Subsidized vanpooling service that provides a reliable and affordable commute option, with access to pre-tax employer benefits and the Guaranteed Ride Program.
• Telework Program Remote work guidance and best practices resources for employers and employees, including tips on collaboration tools, trial runs, and managing distributed teams.
• Carpool Ridematching Online service that matches commuters with other commuters traveling similar routes for carpooling, including bike buddy matching for cyclists.
• Guaranteed Ride Program Backup ride service for sustainable commuters that covers the cost of taxi, Uber, Lyft, or public transit rides home up to $300 per year when unexpected situations arise.
• Community Mobilization Project Community engagement initiative that rewards members with badges for sustainable transportation actions such as tracking trips, teleworking, and reducing CO2 emissions.
• Bike Bus Organized group cycling initiative that helps communities create safe group bike rides to school, work, or events with step-by-step guides for starting programs.
• Bike Borrow Program Free short-term bicycle lending program hosted by community partners such as libraries, allowing community members to borrow bikes typically for up to two weeks.
• Clean Air NY Affiliated initiative that informs the public about air quality conditions and works with commuters to promote sustainable transportation choices.
• Commuter Benefits Program Employer-sponsored program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for commuting expenses, including vanpool fares.
• Preferred Parking Program Workplace benefit program that provides designated parking spaces for employees who carpool, implemented in partnership with employers like Northwell Health.
• Employer Transportation Consulting Free consulting services for employers including worksite assessments, preferred parking implementation, commuter benefits setup, and onsite transportation days.
• Campus Transportation Services Transportation solutions for colleges and universities including campus-wide ridematching, carpool widgets, shuttle assistance, and bike share program implementation support.
• Property Manager Transportation Amenities No-cost services for residential property managers including lobby kiosks with custom mobility websites, transportation-related certification assistance, and resident surveys.
• Municipal Transportation Support Partnership services for municipalities and agencies including event organization, mobility pilots, transportation demand management planning, and impact quantification.

Quantifiable outcome

• 414 million miles of vehicle travel reduced since 2010
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• City of New RochelleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2020The City of New Rochelle partnered with 511NY Rideshare/Clean Air NY to implement CircuitNR, a complimentary on-demand electric shuttle system. The partnership was recognized with a Clean Air NY Champion award. Since implementation, CircuitNR has saved over 38,000 vehicle miles and mitigated 15 metric tons of CO2 emissions. The city was also recognized for its leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing free transportation to healthcare workers.
• Circuit (Free Ride)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2020Circuit is a free on-demand electric shuttle service in New Rochelle, originally launched by the City of New Rochelle's Industrial Development Agency in 2019. 511NY Rideshare facilitated a partnership between Circuit, Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital, and the City of New Rochelle to provide free rides for travel nurses during COVID-19. Circuit was recognized with a Clean Air NY Champion award. The service moved 4,000+ riders per month pre-pandemic.
• SUNY Farmingdale UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUNY Farmingdale has partnered with 511NY Rideshare for eight years, launching a commuter portal making it easy for students to explore sustainable commute modes, including carpool matching. 511NY Rideshare attends orientations and campus events to recruit student members. The goal is to help students focus on learning rather than worrying about transportation to campus.
• Suffolk County Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuffolk County Community College has partnered with 511NY Rideshare for five years through Assistant Director of Sustainability Melanie Morris. The partnership established a comprehensive resource for students and faculty to improve commutes. The college is a primarily commuter campus where single-passenger vehicles are the predominant mode of transportation.
• Northwell HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthwell Health, the largest employer in New York State with 72,000 employees, partnered with 511NY Rideshare to offer preferred parking spaces to employees that carpool. 22 preferred parking signs were installed at the New Hyde Park (Long Island) locations, with expansion plans. The partnership saved Northwell employees 600,000 single occupancy vehicle miles in one year.
• Montefiore New Rochelle HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontefiore New Rochelle Hospital partnered with 511NY Rideshare and Circuit to provide free transportation for travel nurses during the COVID-19 crisis. 511NY Rideshare facilitated the partnership, and the hospital provided disinfectant and PPE to protect drivers and nurses.
• Brooklyn Navy YardminorStrategic or Co-development Partner511NY Rideshare team toured the Brooklyn Navy Yard to observe self-driving shuttle demonstrations by Optimus Ride. The Navy Yard is home to six self-driving Optimus Ride vehicles serving both the public and employees, with stops at Wegmans and NYC Ferry.
• The Matzo ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrooklyn-based 511NY Rideshare partner. During the Smart Travel Badge Drive, The Matzo Project donated ~2,000 bags of chips to The Met Council for distribution to families in need.
• The Met CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Met Council received ~2,000 bags of Matzo Project chips as part of the Smart Travel Badge Drive. The organization serves families in need across New York City.
• Clean Air NYflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Air NY is an affiliated program of 511NY Rideshare, also sponsored by NYSDOT. It informs the public when air quality is in the unhealthy range and works with 511NY Rideshare to connect people with sustainable commute resources. Clean Air NY Champion awards are given to organizations promoting sustainable transportation.
• Transit SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransit Solutions partnered with 511NY Rideshare to promote Car Free Day on Long Island and hosted joint events to encourage sustainable commuting.
• NYCDOT (New York City Department of Transportation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYCDOT partnered with 511NY Rideshare to host virtual biking events and distribute bike helmets during Bike Month, promoting safe biking for recreation and travel in New York City.
• Bike NYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBike NY partnered with 511NY Rideshare, Clean Air NY, and NYCDOT to host 33 virtual biking events since June 2020, distributing bike helmets and registering new members.
• Raw RevminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuring the Smart Travel Badge Drive, Raw Rev donated 500 Glo Peanut Butter & Sea Salt energy bars to The Campaign Against Hunger and The Connected Chef.
• Scully's Wonderful Stuff DeodermintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuring the Smart Travel Badge Drive, Scully's donated 50 bottles of Wonderful Stuff Deodermint to Lenox Hill Neighborhood House.
• Crest BrandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuring the Smart Travel Badge Drive, Crest Brands donated 225 pairs of children's socks to Children's Aid NYC.
• AM&J DigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuring the Smart Travel Badge Drive, AM&J Digital donated 150 face masks to Island Harvest Food Bank and Brooklyn Community Services (300 total).
• Mount Saint Mary CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMount Saint Mary College participated in the first-ever Car Free Day Virtual Miles Challenge with SUNY Orange, with student clubs competing to track the most active miles.
• SUNY OrangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUNY Orange partnered with 511NY Rideshare for the Car Free Day Virtual Miles Challenge with Mount Saint Mary College.
• MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner511NY Rideshare promotes MTA services as part of its commute options. The program helps commuters navigate MTA transit as an alternative to driving alone.
• NYC FerryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC Ferry is promoted as a sustainable transportation option and is integrated into the Brooklyn Bridge Park area travel information for World Cup 2026 fan events.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Bikeshare / Citi Bike program partnerships (NY-area): New York City bike share service that 511NY Rideshare promotes as one of its multimodal commute options. Adjacent/complementary rather than competitive, illustrating the ecosystem of transportation partners 511NY integrates with.

Direct peers

• RideAmigos: Software platform for Transportation Demand Management serving employers, universities, and municipalities with carpool matching, trip planning, and commuter benefits. Most direct functional peer to 511NY Rideshare's ridematching and employer services offering.
• Luum: TDM and commuter benefits platform that incentivizes sustainable commuting through employer programs and rewards, with ridematching and analytics. Closely comparable to 511NY Rideshare's employer partnership and incentive/badge-based member engagement model.

Regional players

• MassRIDES: Massachusetts state-sponsored commuter services program offering carpool matching, transit information, and emergency ride home. A direct functional analog to 511NY Rideshare as another state-government TDM program with a nearly identical service portfolio, but serving Massachusetts rather than New York.
• Commute.org: San Mateo County Transportation Authority's TMA running employer commute programs, carpool matching, and incentives in the Bay Area. Directly comparable model of a public-agency-backed TDM platform serving employers, but operating in a different geography (California) than 511NY Rideshare's New York focus.

Emerging players

• Waze Carpool: Google/Alphabet's carpool matching service that directly competed with 511NY Rideshare's ridematching use case for short-distance commuter trips. Notable as a high-profile commercial alternative that demonstrates the competitive pressure faced by 511NY Rideshare's core product.
• CarpoolWorld: Niche carpool and vanpool ridematching platform used by employers, schools, and government agencies. Overlaps with 511NY Rideshare's core ridematching functionality for a subset of the user base, though lacks the broader TDM and employer consulting layer.
• Slugging (HOV slug lines, primarily DC region): Informal but organized dynamic carpooling system most associated with the Washington DC / Northern Virginia HOV corridors. Conceptually analogous to 511NY Rideshare's carpool/vanpool matching mission, with strong network-effect dynamics, though not a software platform.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Commute / Enterprise Rideshare: Enterprise Mobility's commercial carpool and vanpool program serving employers and government agencies across the US. A larger, established commercial alternative competing for the same employer and government TDM budgets, with broader fleet resources but no free state-government sponsorship.
• Vanpool Services (vRide, a WHC company): Commercial vanpool formation and management provider used by employers, government agencies, and TMAs. Directly comparable to 511NY Rideshare's subsidized vanpool program, but operates as a commercial vendor rather than a free state-sponsored service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/511ny_rideshare
• Facebookfacebook.com/511NYRideshare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/511ny-rideshare
• Instagraminstagram.com/511ny_rideshare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 511NY Rideshare