How Can I Arrange A Successful Carpool?

It’s best to schedule a meeting with your fellow carpoolers before the first trip to talk about insurance, communications and personal preferences.

Determine your route & schedule
Establish the morning pickup point(s) and designate the meeting place(s) for the trip home.

Draw up a schedule for driving responsibilities
If all members of your carpool alternate driving, decide among yourselves if you want to alternate on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Determine how driving expenses will be shared
If the members of your carpool do not share the driving equally, come to an understanding of how the costs will be shared and agree on a payment schedule.

Establish policies & preferences
Smoking or nonsmoking; music and volume; eating or drinking, or talking, particularly in the morning. Your carpool will have a better chance for success if potential irritants are discussed in advance.

Be punctual
Decide how long the driver is expected to wait for latecomers. Be wary of making side trips or running errands while carpoolers are present.

Choose a chain of communication
If a driver is ill, or will not be going to work one day, an alternate driver should be notified to ensure that other members of the carpool will have a ride. If a rider is ill or will not be working, the driver should be contacted.

An agreement to share the ride isn’t a binding contract. But if you find car- or vanpooling isn’t for you, give your partners ample notice so they can make alternate arrangements or find a replacement.

> Register/Renew a Carpool

> Metro Vanpool program

> Guaranteed Ride Home program