commuters
10 tips to successful carpooling:
- pick your route & schedule. Establish the morning and afternoon pickup spots.
- draw up a driving schedule. Decide who drives and when.
- decide how to share costs. If you don’t share the driving equally, then share the costs [parking, gas, tolls…].
- be on time. Decide together – “how long is the driver expected to wait?”
- establish policies. Smoking or non smoking? Music and volume? Food or drinks? Your carpool will have a better chance of success if you set ground rules up front.
- make carpooling serve one purpose. If it is for commuting to and from work, avoid letting it become a shopping or errand service.
- establish a chain of communication. If a driver is ill, or on vacation, notify an alternate driver so the other carpoolers are not left stranded.
- travel safely and keep the vehicle in good repair. Keep the vehicle clean and safe. Don’t ruin it for everyone with excessive speed and reckless maneuvers.
- respect your fellow carpooler's wishes. Especially in the morning when some people relish quiet time.
carpool
why do it alone?
Share the trip -- with a friend, a co- TripMATCH buddy.
AAA says “each time you drive 25 miles to work, you spend approx $5,800 a year on gas, maintenance, taxes, depreciation and finance costs.”
Instead you could save 50% by carpooling with one other person.
try it out
- start talking about it -- At home. At work. At the gym. At school
- get together with others who are interested and come up rules and a schedule
- you drive, your family or friend(s) help pay for gas and parking
- you catch the ride and help pay for gas and parking
- everyone alternates driving and no one exchanges money
- the driver picks up everyone at their homes, or everyone meets at a central location like a park & ride lot
- you share a ride, once a week, twice a week, everyday
- the only rules are the ones you make
- try it out a few different ways and adjust as you go
- keep track of the savings. Maybe spend a little on yourself
advantages
- less stress
- save on commuting costs by sharing. savings calculator
- less parking
- more free time to read and relax
- travel in the HOV lane
- less pollution from fewer auto emissions
- save on tolls with the fast lane carpool program
match my trip
how do I get started?
Join our trip matching service to receive a list of people who travel in your same direction. Call them up and pick a day to try a shared ride. If you like it, plan to do it daily or weekly.
what if I need to get home for an emergency?
The emergency ride home program lets you get home quickly if you’re sick or have a family emergency. See if your employer offers this great benefit.
no luck with your list?
If you've called the people on your match list and still can’t find a carpool partner, don't worry. Just check your online profile to obtain your instant matches. Hundreds of new travelers are added to our database monthly.
If you lose a member of your carpool, sign-in to view new matches or call 888-4COMMUTE and we’ll help you find a replacement.
save money. save time. save the environment. reduce traffic congestion.
