What is a Carpool?

Carpool Tips

Carpool Benefits

Carpool Incentives

Park & Ride Lots Map

Ridematching Service

Carpool Registration


1. Contact the commuters on your “matchlist.” Once you generate a “matchlist” from the Ridematching Service, contact these commuters to discuss the possibility of carpooling together. Get to know them, talk about specifics, and maybe even meet them for coffee.

2. Decide who's driving and when. How many days will you ride together? Which ones? Will you alternate driving duties each day, each week or have one person do it all?

3. Set ground rules. Agree up-front on issues like choice of radio stations, smoking, eating in the car and side trips.

4. Decide on a time and place to meet. Will you pick each other up at home or meet at another location such as a Park & Ride Lot? Give each other a 5-minute window for unexpected delays.

5. Figure out the costs. Commuters that share the driving/riding do not have to exchange money since everyone drives an equal amount. In carpools where one commuter will do all the driving, the commuter(s) riding should pay an equal share of the driver’s vehicle operating costs based on this "Share the Driving Costs" worksheet.

Q
#
"Share the Driving Costs" Sample
Commute
Your
Commute
1 Commuting Miles per Workday
(Round-Trip)
60 miles miles
2 Commuting Miles per Week 300 miles miles
3 Vehicle Operating Cost per Week* $176 $
4 Total Number of Commuters in Carpool
(Must be a number between 2 and 6)
3 commuters commuters
5 Shared Driving Cost per Week for
Each Commuter in Carpool
$59 $
* Based on 2008 IRS Mileage Rate for vehicle operating costs of $.585 per mile.

6. Exchange important information Just in case, share emergency contact information before starting your carpool.

7. Register your carpool with RideFinders! Once commuters agree to carpool, the final step is to register for free with RideFinders. Carpool Registration takes just a few minutes and is required to receive free, exclusive Carpool Incentives from RideFinders.

8. Give plenty of notice if you'll be away. Let your carpool partner(s) know about vacations and personal days well in advance, so they can make other arrangements. If you are taking a sick day or have a personal emergency, notify others right away.

9. Take care of your car. Keep it well-serviced, comfortable and clean.

10. Drive safely! Always make your carpool partner(s) feel they are in good hands.