Carpooling is simply two or more people going together in one vehicle to their destination. 

Carpooling is easy because few people are involved, a carpool is flexible and can usually accommodate everyone’s needs. 

Carpooling saves money because sharing in the cost of driving one car.  In a carpool, you save on gas, the cost of parking and wear and tear on a vehicle.

Carpooling saves time because carpools with the appropriate number of people (usually two or three) have access to the High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes, which are faster than regular highway lanes.  Some businesses offer premier parking for carpoolers, and finding a spot to park one car is always easier than finding a spot for more.

The bottom line – carpooling is cash-friendly and schedule-friendly!

Who Carpools?

Just about anyone can.  The distance of your commute doesn’t matter, as long as the pick up and drop off points are agreed upon by all members of the carpool. 

Steps to Carpooling Success

1. Determine your route and schedule.  Establish the morning pickup point(s) and a place to meet for the trip home.
2. Decide on a schedule for driving responsibilities.  Lay out who drives when and how often members take their turn driving.
3. Establish a plan for reimbursing driving expenses.  If the driving is not shared equally among members, decide what is a fair share for those not using their own vehicle as part of the carpool.
4. Be on time.  Make sure all members of the carpool have a way to contact one another in case someone is running late or needs to make alternate plans.
5. Establish policies concerning smoking, use of cell phones, music and volume, food and drink.  Carpoolers who talk about possible irritants in the beginning have a better experience and are more likely to continue carpooling with a positive attitude.
6. Determine the best way to communicate among members.  If a driver is ill, or will not be going to work one day, an alternate driver should be contacted to make sure other carpool members have a ride.  If a member is ill or will not be going to work, the driver needs to be contacted as soon as possible.
7. Communicate about upcoming schedule changes.  Be considerate of carpool members and remember to give them plenty of time to make adjustments for vacations and days you know you won’t be going to work.
8. Drive carefully and keep vehicles in good working order.  There should be an understanding that speeding, recklessness and driving impaired are unacceptable.
9. Make carpooling the purpose.  The group was formed to save expenses on commuting to and from work, do not allow members to use it as an errand service.
10. Respect your fellow carpoolers.  If one member really needs quiet time in the morning, respect that need.  Members of successful carpools are in a continual give and take situation.