Commuter resources

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  • Tips for establishing a carpool
    • There are many different carpool dynamics. To set your commute up for success, communication is key. Here are some topics for you and your carpool to review as you’re getting started.
    • Roles - Will driving be shared or designated to one person? Carpools can share driving duties or designate one or more driver. You may want to discuss who in the group has access or the ability to drive a vehicle, who prefers to drive, and who is content to be a passenger.
    • Schedule - Where and when will you meet? Decide where you’ll meet to carpool. It may be easier to meet at a convenient location (i.e. park and ride lot) ​rather than picking individuals up along the way. Discuss your schedule and work hours. Do you keep a consistent schedule week-to-week or can your hours vary? Will you carpool one day, three days, or every day?
    • ​ Payment - What payment is expected? For carpools that share driving duties equally there may be no need to exchange payment. For those that set up their carpool with one or more designated driver, the group should discuss payment, method, and frequency.
    • Carpool policies - Discuss items such as eating in the car and radio station preferences These things may seem trivial but coming to an agreement early on helps avoid conflict. Talk about carpool policies – like eating or drinking in the car, listening to the radio, and smoking. Agree on how long you will wait for someone running late and how you’ll communicate with each other (text, call, or email). Establish a backup plan if the driver is not available.​
  • Tips for keeping a carpool running smoothly
    • ​Build in flexibility and practice good communication to accommodate changing schedules
    • If you are a driver, keep the vehicle clean and well-maintained
    • Give notice of vacation or illness as far in advance as possible
    • Do your best to keep to the schedule your carpool agreed on and be prompt
    • If issues arise, communicate and try to talk them out before leaving the carpool
    • Check your profile for new matches and invite a new member to join your carpool​​
  • Bike Buddy Tips
    • • Communicate with your Bike Buddy to agree on a meeting point, schedule, and route
      • ​Consider meeting at a Park and Ride lot, retail parking lot, or shared use path
      • Be punctual and arrive with your gear and equipment ready to ride
    • ​Discuss your experience level including the following questions
      • What pace are you comfortable with?
      • What should you do if you are separated by traffic or at a signal?
    • ​Follow predictable riding habits - ride straight, maintain a relatively constant speed, and keep at least one bike distance between you and your buddy
    • Warn each other of hazards in the roadway or bike lane
  • ​​Commute Calculator

    • Your daily commute adds up! Every day, your commute costs you: ongoing vehicle operating costs (like oil changes and repairs), gas, and parking fees. In addition, motor vehicles are a leading source of air pollutants that negatively impact air quality and human health.

    Choosing an alternative way to work - like vanpool, carpool, transit, biking, walking, or teleworking - has financial and environmental savings. Once you sign up to RIDESHARE, you can track your commute and see your cost savings, pollution, and greenhouse gas reductions on the Dashboard page of both the Commute Tracker app and on the RIDES​HARE website​.

    Visit the Environmental Protection Agency's webpage on Transportation, Air Pollution, and Climate Change for more information and resources.

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