Carpooling is one of the easiest way for drivers to save money. Start by asking yourself if you want to join or form a regular carpool to get to work or if you’re looking for a one time ride to a specific event. Their are options for both.

511 Ridematch

Carpool ridematching provided by 511 SF Bay (www.511.org)

If you typically start and stop work at the same time, Cruz511 offers real-time ridematching with interested commuters that share similar work locations and hours through our partnership with the Bay Area 511 RideMatch System.

Try a Carpool App!

Find rides when you need them and share the cost of driving. Download a smartphone app and give it a try.

• Waze Carpool — waze.com/carpool
• Scoop — takescoop.com
• Duet — duetinc.com

Driving arrangements depend on the carpool.

• Carpool everyday or just a few days a week.
• Share the driving/riding. In some cases, carpoolers take turns doing the driving in his/her own car.
• Driver only. Some carpools have one main driver and the others are only passengers.
• Rider only. Specify that you wish to join a carpool as a passenger only.

Tips for Successful Carpooling

Before your first trip together, have a meeting with potential fellow carpoolers to talk about insurance, communications and personal preferences. It’s good to do this in a neutral public place like a coffee shop on a day when you don’t need to carpool – this allows you to get to know each other with no pressure.

• 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.
• Take safety measures
  Ask whether the car is insured, jot down the license plate, and let someone else know who you’re traveling with.
• 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 something’s not working, speak up and try to work it out.  Ultimately, if you decide that carpooling or vanpooling just isn’t for you, please give your partners ample notice so they can make alternate arrangements or find a replacement.