Participation rising in commuting programs Published July 8, 2011 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Everything has an upside, including the high price of gas. Although gas prices have fallen in recent days, its upward trend most of this year has led to increased participation in programs aimed at reducing the number of vehicles at Robins. Buses into Robins Daily, the Transportation Incentive Program and the Clean Air Campaign have all seen significant increases in participation. The end result is something everyone wants - more places to park. After starting with little ridership in December, the Macon Transit Authority bus shuttle to Robins has seen a steady increase in ridership. The service was set up to alleviate the chronic parking problem on base. During its first full month of operation in January, BiRD averaged 30 riders per day. It now services an average of 101 per day, and that number continues to increase. The roundtrip ride costs $6 but is fully reimbursable through the Transportation Incentive Program, or TIP. The program allows reimbursement for commuting expenses for those who come to work in vehicles of six or more passengers. Senior Master Sgt. Arthur Cassidy, who works with the TIP program, said it now has 487 participants, about double what it was nine months ago. "You save on gas and vehicle maintenance, and you avoid the hassle of not driving," Cassidy said. Also on the increase is the Clean Air Campaign. It encourages carpooling by making participants to be eligible to win gas gift cards. Also, by going to www.logyourcommute.org, participants can find carpooling partners. According to Heidi Schwingle, Robins Clean Air Campaign manager, there are currently 760 Robins employees registered in CAC compared to 584 a year ago.