Tips for Carpooling

[ download printable PDF version (includes poster and sample sign up form) ]

Advantages

Carpooling (or ridesharing) is a great way to:

• cut fuel costs;
• decrease emissions;
• get to know other people;
• reduce commuting time by reducing vehicles on the road and by traveling in high occupancy vehicle or HOV lanes (where available);
• increase parking availability at work and at church; and
• take advantage of carpooling benefits your employer may offer (see http://www.commuterchoice.gov/employ/list_of_employers.htm for a list of employers who are participating in the EPA's "Commuter Choice" program.

Organize, But Only a Bit

Carpooling works best when it is well organized. People who are willing to carpool expect to reach their destinations and want to know when they will be picked up.

If you are doing this with co-workers to your workplace, or with any consistent group going to a consistent location, very little organizing may be needed. One person needs to take the initiative to set up who will drive and how often, whether any money will be paid, the order of pick up, etc. Once this is in place, continual operation will not need much extra organizing.

There are many ridesharing and carpooling databases available on the Internet that help with finding other people going in the same direction. Try searching for "carpool" or "rideshare" and your state on the Internet. You can also go to:

• http://www.carpoolconnect.com/
• http://www.tripshare.ca/
• http://www.carpoolworld.com/
• http://www.erideshare.com/

Another way to attract riders is to place a poster in your car window listing your commute. You may download and print off this poster to use, or make your own: Carpool Poster (PDF).

A Word About Insurance

It is perfectly legal to carpool and you may accept money to drive someone to work. But every insurance company and every state may have different laws and regulations. Make sure you tell your insurance company what you are doing. There may be an increase in your premiums, but you will ensure all your passengers are covered.

For example, some insurance companies will charge your 10-15% more if you are receiving money to drive someone to work. This amount can be factored into the amount per trip that you charge. If everyone takes a turn driving everyone else, and no one pays any money, your insurance company may simply want to make a note of that on your file. This way, everyone is covered if you should ever have an accident.

Carpooling and Your Church

If you have problem with parking at your church, carpooling could solve your problem! Maybe you just want to cut down on emissions. Carpooling can also be a tool for community building or for outreach and witness.

A church carpool program will try to link people who are close geographically and who have space in their car. The most effective church carpooling will have at least one person who will oversee the program. They can receive requests and work to match people together. This person should also be willing to receive concerns and re-assign people as necessary. There should always be the option for anyone to stop carpooling if they find that it is not working. Decide whether any money will be exchanged. More than likely church members will be willing to share without asking for money.

A form with the following information can be used for sign up:

• Name of contact person
• Address
• Phone
• Email
• Location from church to home
• Number of people in family
• Do you own a car and am willing to add others to it?
• Number of spaces available
• Do you attend church on a regular basis
• Time usually arrive at church

Place announcements in your church bulletin or newsletter, and put up posters around your church. Mention your reason for doing carpooling (loving our neighbors by reducing pollution, lack of parking, build community, etc.) and encourage those who can and are interested to sign up. Tell people about the benefits of carpooling, but also tell them to talk with their insurance company. (All of this could be done in an Adult Education session that also utilizes the other resources on this website.) Carpooling can also be done for other church meetings, including committees, youth events, etc.