 Sacramento Transportation Management Association
The Sacramento
TMA is an independent, non-profit membership association.
Since 1990, the TMA has helped thousands of commuters find alternatives
to driving alone to work.
For
your Commute Log or an Emergency Ride ...
check out
COMMUTER CLUB |
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Carpooling |
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Click
here
to sign up for a carpool matchlist - people with the same work
hours that live and work near you |
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Why carpool? |
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How do I find
someone to carpool with?
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What about
etiquette, costs, safety?
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What
if I or my carpooler have to get home and don't have a car?
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Where can we meet if we don't pick up at home? |
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Frequently Asked Questions about Carpooling |
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What about Vanpooling? |
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What do carpoolers think of people
paying to drive in the Carpool lanes? |
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Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week reduces your carbon
dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year?
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Why carpool? |
Want an easier way to
work? How about carpooling with one or two other
commuters? You'll save time and money, meet new
people, and carpooling is a fun and social
alternative to driving alone!
When you carpool, you
take a car off the congested roads and put more
money in your wallet.
Whether you carpool every day or just occasionally,
you'll reap the benefits:
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Less money spent on
gas
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Reduced wear and
tear on your vehicle
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Lower vehicle
maintenance costs
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An
Emergency Ride
Home if you don't have a car at work
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More relaxing (or
productive!) time as someone else helps with
driving
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Less air pollution
If you share the
expenses with just one other person, you cut your
commute cost in half.
Add more riders and save even more.
back
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How do I find
someone to carpool with? |
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 Call
511 or
sign up online by clicking the 511 box at right to log in to
the regional Rideshare database and receive names of people
that live and work near you and would like to carpool.
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Ask
your co-workers. Find an information board at work
where you can post a card with your name, home zip and work
phone number.
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Register in Commuter Club - Go to
Find a Carpool - Check the list or add our information.
You can ask for only people at
your workplace.
back |
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What about
etiquette, costs, safety? |
Carpool
Etiquette
Make your carpool experience more
pleasurable by agreeing on a few things in advance.
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How
many days a week will you carpool to work? Some
carpools operating every weekday, some just once or twice a
week. Decide if you are going to alternate driving, drive
every day or ride every day.
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If
it is not a shared driving arrangement, agree on a payment
schedule.
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Decide where the designated pick-up point will be? Some
carpools have door-to-door service; others meet at a
convenient church or grocery store parking lot. Most
vanpools find one or more pick-up locations. Establish a
time schedule and pick-up points and respect everyone’s time
by being prompt.
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Establish a rule for latecomers. Decide how long the carpool
will wait for a passenger (3 - 5 minutes is usually
recommended)..
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Will
there be any unscheduled stops allowed or will the carpool
avoid side trips on the way home?
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Keep
the car clean, well maintained and filled with enough gas
for each trip.
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Decide on radio use, smoking policies and other similar
concerns before you start carpooling. Is eating/drinking
allowed? Which station will you listen to on the radio? News
channels are usually great ideas for updates on traffic,
sports, stocks and weather.
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Set
up a plan of communication. If someone can't make it on a
given day, let the driver know in advance the day before.
Don't forget to give notice of vacation, personal or
overtime plans.
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Have
a back-up plan for emergency situations. Who will be your
alternate drivers in cases of illness or emergency before
the morning commute? If your driver must leave early because
of a family emergency or stay late for unexpected overtime,
what will the other riders do? The Sacramento TMA offers a
Emergency Ride Home (below) that will provide you a taxi
ride home for these situations.
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What if I or my carpooler have to get home and
don't have a car? |
 Nobody wants to be stranded at work without transportation
in an
emergency. Now there's no need to worry, thanks to the Emergency Ride Home program
offered by the TMA. To qualify for this FREE service you must use an alternate mode
of transportation at least three days a week and enroll by registering
in Commuter Club.
Now you can carpool and know that you'll never be stranded.
For more information on
when you can use the Emergency Ride Home program click
here or call the Sacramento TMA at
737-1513.
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Where can we meet if we don't pick up at home?
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Meet your carpool partners at a
Park-n-Ride-Lot for safety and convenience
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Frequently Asked Questions about
carpooling
Can I find a "perfect"
carpool partner?
Finding the right rideshare partner is important
in keeping your commute pleasant. Rideshare organizations like Sacramento
Rideshare and your local TMAs realize that the choice needs to be yours.
So a personalized list is created for you based upon people with similar commute
patterns. Screening processes are important and can be based upon the personal
needs of your commute. So you can find that perfect rideshare partner- the
choice is yours. For your personalized list go to
www.sacregion511.org
Who’s That Stranger in My Car?
The thought of sharing a ride to work with someone you don't know may feel a little
strange. The key to putting your mind at ease is meeting and sharing some ground rules
with your new rideshare partner(s). The more you discuss in advance, the less you and your
rideshare partner will have to worry about later. Some issues you may want to work out are
preferences such as smoking, music, and seating. You may want to set a probation period
for the carpool so that if things don't work out- you can each move on to other
ridesharing arrangements.
Am
I
Committed to this?
One of the reasons people may hesitate to carpool
is that they are afraid they are making a commitment to rideshare everyday. The
truth is, carpooling even once a week is better than not at all. Many people
have arrangements to rideshare one or two days per week. There are many people
out there who want to rideshare but don't want to make an everyday commitment
you can find them by calling 511 or go online to
www.sacregion511.org for a matchlist made
personally for you.
I Don’t Want to be Stuck in a Carpool or Vanpool I Don't Like
You can always try another carpool or vanpool. The
matchlist
database can help you keep trying until you find the perfect fit for your commute needs.
Just remember that ridesharing is not just "carpooling." It means using any
other modes of transportation other than driving alone.
But I Have Kids In Daycare
Make the daycare center your meeting place. The day care center can become an
informal park-and-ride lot for carpools or as a place to meet parents who have children at
the same daycare center. Even though they may not work in exactly the same place you do,
they may commute in the general vicinity.
I Need My Car during the Day
Leaving your car at home even once or twice a week can help reduce air
pollution and traffic congestion significantly. Schedule your off-site appointments and
meetings on the same days so you don't have to leave the office everyday. If you carpool,
be the driver during the days you have errands to run.
I Need to Run Errands after Work
Plan appointments and errands on the days you don't rideshare. You can even
rideshare if you have daily obligations, such as dropping off and picking tip your child
at daycare. The day care center can become an informal park-and-ride lot for carpools or
as a place to meet parents who have children at the same daycare center. Even though they
may not work in exactly the same place you do, they may commute in the general vicinity.
No One Lives Near Me
You might be surprised by how many people make the same commute you do. When
you request a matchlist, you will receive a confidential list of commuters who work
similar hours and who live and work near you.
I Only Live a Few Minutes from Work
Each time you start your car's engine, the pollution emitted is equivalent to
driving ten miles. Carpools can be formed no matter how short the trip, Consider taking
public transit, bicycling or walking to work on days with nice weather.
Tackle Your Daily Commute with the Right Mix
People’s lifestyles vary, and commute needs change based upon where
we live, distance from work, weather, and personal responsibilities. That's why it’s
necessary to be prepared and plan your commute mix ahead of time, so that you’ll have
options to choose from when you need them. There are plenty of transportation alternatives
available including carpooling, vanpooling, riding a bike, taking the bus, telecommuting
and walking. By planning the right mix ahead of time, you can prepare for what’s
ahead of you. You can find all the information you need by calling (916) 441-7074.
Can't
join a carpool? You can still pollute less
Many people don't realize that the way they drive can have significant impacts
on the pollution their vehicle emits. The fact is, driving too fast, topping off at the
pump and accelerating too quickly can make your vehicle pollute even more than it already
does. There are many things you can do to reduce pollution- even if you have to drive.
- Combine errands into one trip
- Replace your car’s air filter
- Keep your tires properly inflated
- Use cruise control on the highway
- Keep your car tuned
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