An air carrier First Officer refused to continue his flight sequence due to fatigue. Cited frequent company practice of scheduling 'reduced rest' for reserve flight crew.

Narrative

I was scheduled for reduced rest as a reserve pilot assigned a short flight with a short layover. We were two hours late; which gave us the minimum rest of 8 hours and a 30 minute report. Since the company includes time in the hotel van as rest; we were required to be at the airport by 0645 'our report' time. Including time to unwind after the day and waking up in the morning and getting ready; I was able to get less than 6 hours of sleep. Upon arriving at our first destination of the day I determined that I was no longer fit to fly further and I called in fatigued. Reduced rest is by far the most unsafe practice continually doled out to the pilots at our company. As a line holder over the last 6 months or so I have very rarely had reduced rest; but as I type this I see that the company has once again scheduled me for reduced rest tonight. Reserve pilots work longer hours than line pilots; and still get reduced rest. With all of the studies and pressure from events this year; how is it possible that the company can get away with scheduling a pilot for 'rest' with sleep of no more than 6 hours? Is safety the first goal here? I don't think so.