Commuteride’s carpool matching service gives individuals with similar commute patterns the opportunity to organize their own group. Home and work locations along with work hours are considered in determining your potential carpool partners. Some employers in the Treasure Valley offer preferential carpool parking and other incentives to encourage their employees to share the ride. Ask your Human Resources Department about company-sponsored transportation benefits. If your employer is interested in starting transportation incentive program have them contact someone in our Marketing and Outreach group.

Carpool Questions

What is carpooling?
Carpooling can be arranged a variety of ways. Two or more people can share the driving and not exchange any money but just trade off on the use of their vehicles. One person may prefer to do the driving and the rider may compensate the driver for the costs associated with carpooling. In some cases a carpool partner may not even own a vehicle but share the costs with the driver. How you arrange your carpool is up to you!

Who Carpools?
People who are looking to share a ride to work include co-workers, friends, neighbors, family members and new friends who you might find in Commuteride’s ridematching database. If you decide to carpool with a Commuteride match, we recommend you meet in a café or public location to make arrangements and see if it will work for both of you. After you set up your arrangements you may find it convenient to meet at a Park and Ride lot.

People who are traveling long distances perhaps statewide or even across the country have ridesharing options as well. Check out www.eRideshare.com

When do you Carpool?
We recommend that you carpool when it’s convenient for you and your carpool partner. Some people commute together one or two days a week while others may carpool every day. Again, how frequently you carpool is up to you. You may want to start out on a trial basis to see how it works before committing to a regular schedule.

Where do you find a Carpool Partner?
Co-workers, friends, neighbors and/or family members may be a potential carpool partner. If you don’t know of anyone who shares your commute and work schedule check out Commuteride’s ridematching service to find a potential carpool match.

Why Carpool?
Carpooling can help with the following:

• Reduce costs associated with driving alone like gas, maintenance, wear & tear, insurance and depreciation.
• Reduce stress associated with driving to work every day.
• Qualify for our Guaranteed Ride Home program in case of an emergency.
• You may get some extra sleep or read a book you haven’t had time for!

What about Emergencies?
Once you’ve arranged the days you’ll be carpooling, be sure to have some way to get in touch in case someone’s running late, sick or there’s an emergency. If you have an emergency and need to get home you can take advantage of Commuteride’s Guaranteed Ride Home program. Carpool participants must pre-register for this program to qualify.

What about Rules and Guidelines?
Good communication is critical to a successful carpool experience. Be sure to discuss preferences around eating, beverages, smoking, perfume/colognes, animals, radio stations, etc., in each person’s vehicle to avoid misunderstandings.