Carpool

You really won’t know if it’s a good long-term solution for you until you try it. But, going in, you should be willing to do two things. First, you should be willing to work out a schedule that is convenient for you and the others in the carpool. Second, you should be willing to compromise a bit on conditions in the carpool, if necessary. For example, if everyone likes to listen to a different radio station, the car radio may not be tuned to your favorite station every day.

You can find carpoolers in a number of ways. You can create an account using myCommuteSolutions, our free matching service, and search for other people in your area who are interested in carpooling.

You can put the word out at work that you’d like to carpool, either by sending out an e-mail or posting a notice in the lunchroom (download the Commute Solutions “Carpooler Wanted“ flyer in color and “Carpool Wanted“ flyer in black and white.)

You can also advertise through your neighborhood association, your local supermarket, coffee shop, or your place of worship.

Carpool members can include work or school associates you already know, or people who live near you and work at a nearby employer. Occasionally the RideShare program ends up helping commuters meet their neighbors by matching people who work at the same company and live near each other but have never met.

You can send an instant e-mail to any of your matches through myCommuteSolutions, and you don’t even have to write the message; just send the pre-written one if you prefer.

Once you’ve made the initial contact and the match has responded, we suggest you set up a time and place to meet in person to talk about possible carpool arrangements. Some good topics to address at this first meeting include:

• How often you would like to carpool, at least initially
• Who wants to drive, and how often
• Meetup/pickup time and place for both ends of the commute

If it looks like everyone wants to try out carpooling, you should:

• Choose a date to start
• Exchange cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses
• Make sure drivers have valid licenses and auto insurance

Statistics show carpooling is very safe. However, you must keep your personal safety in mind. If you are considering carpooling with people you do not know, you should meet with them in person beforehand. This meeting will serve two purposes. First, you’ll have a chance to discuss your ideas on setting up a carpool without obligating yourself to do it. Second, you’ll be able to assess your comfort level with the people. Ask questions and trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about someone, don’t carpool with that person. You can simply say that you’ve decided carpooling won’t work for you.

They can, but it’s not a requirement. In fact, a carpool may include people who will not drive at all. In these cases the “riders” should plan to pay the driver an agreed-upon amount to help out with driving costs. (See below for tips on determining a fair cost for non-drivers.)

If a carpool does switch drivers, this can be done on a daily basis, a weekly basis or longer, depending on the carpoolers’ preferences. This may change over time as new people join the carpool.

Not unless you want to. Carpooling is flexible enough so you can choose the number of days you’d like to share the ride. If you have occasional before- or after-work commitments, just let your carpoolers know that you won’t be available those days.

There are a number of different ways to organize the logistics. If carpool members live close to each other, then the driver can simply come by each person’s house to pick them up. If that’s not feasible, then carpoolers can meet at one of the members’ houses or a centrally located public place. Keep in mind that there are also park-and-ride lots throughout the region that can serve as a meetup point.

On the other end of the commute, carpoolers can plan to meet at a centrally located spot for the driver to pick them up if they don’t work at the same company.

Insurance policies vary, and it is a good idea to check your policy — primarily the Exceptions/Exclusions portions. General liability insurance covers passengers, and most policies would not exclude carpool members, but it is worth checking. Another good reason to put in a call to your agent is to see if you qualify for a carpooling discount.

This is perhaps one of the key questions asked by potential carpoolers and, unfortunately, there is no simple answer. It will vary depending on the carpool. In carpools where driving is equally shared, no money usually changes hands as each member is using their personal vehicle an equal amount of time. When only one person does the driving, or when there is an unequal split of driving responsibilities, the cost-sharing arrangement must be discussed by those in the carpool.

The carpool members are free to base the costs on whatever they may choose. However, some guidelines to consider include how much the driver spends on gas and wear and tear.

If you have an appointment or errands before or after work and need your car, don’t plan to carpool that day. If your appointment is during work, then plan to drive the carpool that day so you’ll have your car.

If you currently are in the habit of using your car to do errands, go to lunch, or go to appointments during the work day, it’s a good idea to ease yourself into carpooling by doing it just once a week initially. Then, find ways to reduce your dependence on driving so you can carpool more often:  bring your lunch to work, bundle your errands or take care of them online if possible.

Of course! Every carpool is unique, but good etiquette is essential to keep it running smoothly. Good etiquette takes into account communication, courtesy, and the safety of everyone in the carpool. See this list of do’s and don’ts for carpoolers:

DO:

• Communicate with your fellow carpoolers. If you’re running a few minutes late, call them and let them know. If you can’t carpool on a particular day due to a schedule conflict, give your carpool partners ample notice so they can make other arrangements.
• Drive safely at all times.
• Keep your vehicle clean and in good condition.
• Respect any other restrictions the carpool has agreed on, such as smoking, eating or drinking.

DON’T:

• Make a habit of being late.
• Ask your carpoolers to make extra stops along the way so you can take care of personal errands. The carpool is meant to help everyone with their commutes, period.
• Bring up controversial topics like religion or politics unless you know your fellow carpoolers well. While some people enjoy debating the issues, others may prefer a quieter commute.
• Have lengthy cell phone conversations while you’re in the carpool.

Both car-lite living options have perks and cases to consider.

Because you are paying by your time and not by the mile, car sharing is great for:

• Longer trips
• Reaching location with poor transit access
• Running errands with several short stops

Because you are letting someone else be your driver, ride sharing is best for:

• Transportation to and from the airport
• Getting home safely after a night out
• Getting to and from public transit
• Getting around an unfamiliar city without having to learn the transit system or rent a car
• Everyday transportation if your driver’s license is suspended or revoked