With rising fuel costs, environmental awareness, and a trend toward urban living, carpooling is more popular than ever. It can be difficult to get started carpooling, but once you get into the swing of things, it's easier than your typical daily commute. Here are some pointers for getting your carpooling idea off the ground.
Get a Group Together
Most people carpool with coworkers, since it's easier to coordinate and be on time. Send out an email or ask around to see if anyone may be interested. If no one in the office is interested, there are many online websites like Craigslist and eRideShare where you can find potential carpoolers.
It's best to find people who live near you, no more than 10 miles away, but even more important is that everyone works nearby. Spending too much time picking up or dropping off can waste gas, waste time, and make carpooling frustrating and inefficient.
If you don't know the people in your group beforehand, make a point to meet before carpooling. Make sure everyone trusts each other and gets along well. You want to minimize conflict.
Work Out the Logistics
Work out the rules and make sure everyone agrees with them before starting to carpool. This cannot be stressed enough. A few questions to answer: Whose car will we use? Will it change from day to day? Do we all pay for gas and car maintenance? How often? Who gets picked up/dropped off first/last? What is our contingency plan? Which radio station should we listen to? No question is too petty or strange. You want to make sure everyone is absolutely on the same page before proceeding.
Choose the Right Car
You can carpool in any type of vehicle, though there are certain considerations to keep in mind. It isn't wise to carpool in a coupe, unless it's only two or three people. When thinking about space, remember that everyone will be carrying a purse, briefcase, or other bag. So a sedan would work for four people, a hatchbackfor five people, etc.
Be Courteous
When you start carpooling, do your part to keep things running smoothly and conflict free. Try to always be on time, whether you're picking up or being picked up. If it's your car that's being used, keep it clean and well maintained. If you're riding, don't bring in food, drinks, or anything else that may make a mess unless explicitly allowed. Always offer to contribute and pay your way. People usually require quiet early in the morning and after work. Be friendly but unobtrusive.
