A carpool is simply two or more people sharing a ride together in a common vehicle. Typically this involves two to three co-workers or students from the same community driving together, rather than commuting in their individual cars. A carpool can operate on a daily or occasional basis (once or twice a week), and may involve rotating the driving responsibilities. It is possible to carpool even if you don’t have a car of your own; you simply contribute toward gas and other expenses instead of providing a vehicle. Flexibility is the key to carpooling. There is always a way to make it work for you.
Many people who try carpooling say how easy it is to do. In addition, it gives them a chance to relax, meet new people, and save money on gasoline, parking costs, vehicle maintenance and insurance. In fact, carpooling helps you prolong the life of your current vehicle by reducing the miles you’re now putting on it. Remember, when carpooling you’re also doing your part to ease traffic and clear the air. So sit back and use your commute to catch up on the news, read, or even sleep!
Carpool tips:
If you follow a few simple guidelines you’ll see that forming a successful carpool is easy. Before you start a new carpool, meet with your potential carpool partner in advance, over coffee or lunch, to discuss each person’s needs and the details of how your carpool will work. This will help make both of you more comfortable with each other.
A few topics you should cover:
* How often you want to carpool
* Who drives and when
* Arrangements for pick-up/drop-off
* What to do if you must stay late or leave early
* Whether eating or smoking will be allowed
If you stop and look around you may be surprised to discover co-workers, classmates, or acquaintances that would be great carpool partners.