Carpool Information

Photo of Carpool sign The Rideshare system matches people interested in carpooling, vanpooling or bicycling based on home and work (or school) locations and schedules. Interested commuters receive names of others with similar commute routes and work hours, who have expressed interest in carpooling or cycling. It is then up to you to contact them to discuss arrangements for riding or biking together.

Ridesharing reduces the number of vehicles on the road and helps reduce air pollution. Carpoolers and vanpoolers can save money and reduce stress by sharing the time and cost of the commute. Get healthier by working exercise into your daily routine by cycling or walking for work, school and errands.

Vanpool Information

A vanpool is a group of six to 15 people who commute together in a van on a regular basis. The coordinator usually drives and maintains the van while riders pay a monthly fare. In most vanpools, the driver/coordinator rides for free.

Vanpooling works best for commuters who:

Commute at least 20 miles each way
Work a similar schedule
Work consistent, regular hours

Arrange to meet with your potential commuting partners over coffee or lunch to determine whether you're suited to ride together. Use this time to work out the details of commuting together. The more you discuss in advance, the fewer problems you'll have later on. Some ground to cover might include:

Who drives, and when?
How often you'll ride together. Daily? Once a week?
Meeting locations (a park-and-ride lot, child care center, at home?)
Setting a time limit for waiting to prevent being late for work
How to get home in an emergency
- (Check on the Emergency Ride Home Program through your Transportation Management Association.)
Preferences such as smoking, music, seating
Side trips, if any
Driver's duties, such as filling the gas tank beforehand
A specific trial period for the carpool
Any other concerns

Passengers can save hundreds of dollars each year over the cost of driving to work alone. Some employers (including the State of California) even provide subsidies to employees who drive or ride in vanpools. Check with your Employee Transportation Coordinator, or local Transportation Management Association for more information.

SACOG is currently offering a vanpool incentive program to help new vanpools get established.

For more information, please contact:

Sabrina Bradbury
Transportation Demand Management Clerk
sbradbury@sacog.org
(916) 340-6211