After 14 years of commuting from the East Bay to Mission Bay, Anirvan Chatterjee knows the ins and outs of the Bay Area transit system. On any given day, the Director of Data Strategy at UCSF’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) may take BART, Muni, or even the Mission Bay TMA shuttle.
“I really appreciate that the Mission Bay campus is so well connected,” he said. “It’s kind of amazing, because there’s so many ways to get here.”
Recently, his reliable routine was disrupted.
“I came into work feeling fine, but by early afternoon I just wasn’t feeling well. I knew I needed to get home and get into bed,” Chatterjee recalled.
That’s when he remembered UCSF Transportation’s Emergency Ride Home program, a benefit for employees who use alternative transportation like public transit or carpooling. The program reimburses up to $50 for a ride home (up to four trips a year) when an emergency arises, no questions asked.
“It was my first time using the program,” he said. “I looked it up online, confirmed that they’d cover my ride home, and called a car. It was really easy too. I just had to screenshot the receipt and submit it.”
While the ride was simple, the experience left a lasting impression on Chatterjee.
It made me feel really cared for,” he shared. “UCSF values employees who take transit. I’ve told friends about it, and they’re always surprised: They do that for you? That’s so cool.’
The Emergency Ride Home program is one of many UCSF initiatives that support sustainable commuting. For Chatterjee, who commutes from the East Bay without a car, it’s reassuring to know that support is there, even in unexpected moments.
"That kind of backup plan makes it so much easier to keep choosing public transit,” he said.
Chatterjee encourages fellow employees to explore their options and not let fear of the “what ifs” prevent them from ditching the car.
Transit might be the best way to commute,” Chatterjee said. “When I’m on BART, I can sleep, read, listen to an audiobook—while my coworkers are sitting in traffic. And thanks to the program, if something comes up, I’m not stuck. I have a safety net.
