Carpool
 Carpooling with a spouse, friend or co-worker is a great alternative to driving alone. Carpooling is the one of the most flexible and convenient ways to share the ride. Not only do you have someone to chat with during the drive, you can save money by sharing the cost of gas.
Don't know anyone you can carpool with? No problem. Follow these easy steps to get you going. They cover everything you need to know to get your carpool up and running. Step 1. Finding a carpool partner
There are lots of great ways to find carpool partners. RideshareOnline.com is a good place to start. RideshareOnline.com is a free, confidential ridematching service that will provide you with names of people with similar destinations and schedules. Go to www.RideshareOnline.com and click on Logon, follow the instructions, and you will be on your way. Once you submit your information, you will immediately get a response back with names of people who are interested in carpooling and have a similar schedule to yours.
Be sure to call everyone whose name you receive. Their hours may be flexible. They may be willing to meet you at a convenient pick-up point. And best of all, they may know other people interested in carpooling!
There are other easy ways to round up riders, too. You can contact co-workers and neighbors. Talk to your Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) or Human Resource Department at work. Or post a sign in your car window or on bulletin boards at work.
Step 2. Who's got the wheel?
After you find a carpool partner, now you need to figure out who's going to drive and when. If everyone takes turns driving, decide if you want to alternate on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. If there are more than two of you in your carpool, designate a back-up driver in case someone's unable to drive during their rotation. (Attention drivers: be sure your insurance is up-to-date!) Then, do a schedule and make sure every member of your carpool gets a copy.
Next, talk to the people in your carpool to determine where to meet. Decide whether you prefer door-to-door service or meeting at one central location, such as a park-and-ride lot. Establish your morning and evening pick up times. Then plan your route!
Step 3. Make sure what's fare is fair.
If each person in the carpool takes a turn at driving, then there's no need to charge. If only one person drives, however, you'll want to charge each rider a reasonable fare. Here's one way to do it: - Carpool roundtrip mileage X Cost per mile / Number of carpoolers = Daily Fare per Rider
(Operating costs average about 57 cents** per mile for gas, oil, maintenance and tires. This does not include ownership costs such as insurance, licensing and depreciation. **Source: AAA, "Your Driving Costs," 2004 edition.)
You may also want to include any parking costs you might have.
Step 4. Whose idea was it to bring the yodeling tape?
The best way to keep your carpool running smoothly is by working out some carpool rules in advance. Decide how to handle issues like smoking, eating and drinking in the car, radio playing, waiting times for tardy riders, seating arrangements, car maintenance (a clean car is a happy car), and driving rotation. You may even want to talk about talking in the car. Some people enjoy it, others don't -- especially in traffic. Agree on how to handle vacations and bad weather. And don't forget to give everyone a list with each carpooler's home and work phone numbers, in case of illness or emergency.
Other Benefits. Give your carpool a lift with these extras
Remember, many employers offer preferential or discounted parking for carpoolers. In addition, a guaranteed ride home program is available through some employers. Check with your Employee Transportation Coordinator to see if you are eligible for these benefits. Carpooling to work is a great decision! It's the smart way to share your ride and your expenses. It's also a great way to help eliminate traffic congestion, air pollution and even a few gray hairs all from the comfort of your own car. |
