A carpool can either be a formal or informal arrangement and works by sharing your ride with someone or a group of people who are headed in the same direction. It is most effective when these groups of people live in the same area. This way, they all have the same route.
Why you should Carpool
Carpooling is an effective way of reducing air pollution and heavy traffic on highways as it reduces the number of vehicles on the road.
Benefits of Carpooling
Carpool significantly reduces the level of carbon emission and prevents air pollutionCarpool reduces traffic jams and road congestionCarpool reduces the stress of driving every dayCarpool brings about faster commuting as some areas have carpool HOV (High occupancy vehicle) lanes. Carpool saves money and gasA carpool can lead to a lot of networking opportunitiesA carpool allows you to work in the car when you are not the one drivingCarpool builds relationships and strengthens friendshipsCarpool is perfect for individuals that cannot driveCarpool is far better and more convenient than taking buses or the train
Disadvantages of Carpooling
Carpool does not respect one’s privacy. Someone who loves silence in the car may not be able to get it as a result of carpoolingCarpooling can sometimes mess with your schedule and activitiesIt may result in the spread of contaminated diseasesWith carpooling, you will have to work with the time of those you are carpooling withWhen you are the one driving, you are responsible for all the other passengers in the carTardy passengers can lead to the constant tardiness of your vehicle. Some Insurance companies may not be in support of your carpooling
How to Carpool
Check with your friends, colleagues, and company for any carpool resources availableYou can also communicate with your neighbours or people within your community to get other commutersYou can also check out government-sponsored carpool programsYou can visit apps and websites that connect carpoolers
How to Start a Carpool
You can start a Formal or Informal Carpool by reaching out to your friends or colleagues. You can reach out to them through Facebook, or the company’s group to know those that will be interested in carpooling together. You should start with people you are familiar with before extending the invitation to strangers.
You can then create a group and post the routes that will be followed and the time and place where everyone would convey together and the schedule to show everyone’s turn for driving. All drivers must have insurance coverage and a valid driver’s license.
Make sure you set rules on late coming, division of fuel cost, and rotation of cars and drivers. Once all these terms have been agreed upon by all members of the carpool, you can now begin carpooling.
Apps that connect Carpoolers
If you do not want to go through the stress of organizing or setting up it from the scratch, there are apps already programmed to connect carpoolers. Some of the apps include:
Waze Carpool
Waze is a navigation app that connects riders and drivers through rideshare technology. Car owners will have to create a profile with them by sharing their vehicle information and route followed. As for riders, they can use the app to request a ride and the app will connect them with a rider matching their route.
Zimride
Zimride is a more formal and official carpooling app where the workplace has to set up its private network and the employees are then invited to join. On this app, you can only use your official email address to join this carpooling service.
Scoop
Scoop is a carpooling service that runs a motor report on all its drivers to ensure they are not violating any rules. Scoop matches neighbours and coworkers and other people within your community to ride together. An average ride with Scoop costs about $2 to $10.
Carpooling has its advantages and disadvantages. Once you evaluate the pros and cons of carpooling and you decide to go with it, there are a lot of apps that connect carpoolers and you can even start your own carpooling among your friends and loved ones.
Remember, Safety while driving is the most important.
Question 1: What’s the difference between Carpooling and Vanpooling?
Answer: Unlike carpooling where any number of people can come together to form of it, Vanpooling always uses a high occupancy vehicle and it is operated by a designated driver and also requires a certain number of riders.
Question 2: How many permits can it receive?
Answer: A carpool can receive only one permit for a preferred parking lot
Question 3: Can I Carpool with a motorcycle?
Answer: No. You can only use a registered multi-passenger car, vehicle, or truck for carpooling.
