Commuting programs take bite out of gas prices

Firms say demand for mass transit reimbursement, shuttle busses, car pools and bike racks, mirrors fuel costs.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – With gas prices over $3 a gallon in many parts of the country, companies and transit benefit providers alike say there’s a boom in interest for any program that can help take the bite out of filling the tank.

“There’s been a flurry of activity all of a sudden,” said Mark Gorman, U.S. commute reduction manager at Intel. “It’s pretty obvious it’s due to increasing gas prices.”

Gorman said that in addition to participation in commuter programs that vary by site but include things like reimbursement for ridding mass transit, shuttle vans and car pool listings, he’s seen an increase in pitches from outside vendors.

One of the more novel is a business concept by a young female entrepreneur, still in the development stage but under consideration by Intel (Research), that would provide luxury shuttle service from San Francisco to the company’s operation in Santa Clara about an hour to the south.

CNN/Money