Carpool Toolkit

Sharing the Ride has all the...

possumbilities!

CARPOOL

IS ONE OF THE TRAVEL OPTIONS PROMOTED THROUGH GOTRIANGLE’S COMMUTER SERVICES GoTriangle and its partners work together to provide sustainable options to enhance the quality of life in the region and improve access to our communities’ jobs, educational institutions, and healthcare providers while reducing roadway congestion and air pollution.

Visit gotriangle.org/services-programs to learn more about commuter resources, free employer consulting services, and university programs.

THE WORD CARPOOL MIGHT MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EACH OF US: •

There’s traditional carpooling, also referred to as rideshare or carshare. This is an arrangement between two or more people who have a common origin and destination to take a trip together in a single-vehicle.

•

There are family carpools or Fampools. These naturally forming carpools are usually trips made with your family and friends. Fampools are often associated with school carpools.

•

There are ride-hailing services like taxis, Uber, and Lyft.

Ride-hailing services require payment for the transportation services provided and are typically one-way trips.

•

If you have a lot of people who wish to carpool - you may want to check out a vanpool. Vanpooling is a long-distance rideshare option for people heading to the same destination and usually consists of 4 to 15 commuters. Learn how to get started at gotriangle.org/vanpool

table of contents

.................................................................................

4

........................................................................................

6

share the ride nc carpool myths

emergency ride home goperks

.......................................................................................................

8

10

. ............................................................................

12

.............................................................................................................

14

carpool checklist notes

. ........................................................................

carpooling has all the possumbilities !

4

Don’t ride alone...Share the Ride!

Carpooling has never been easier.

There are benefits when 2 or more people share a ride.

START TODAY TO: • Save on gas and maintenance fees • Benefit from preferred parking (at some locations) • Reduce congestion on roads and highways • Lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air • Get to know your neighbors and co-workers

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED • Register at STRNC.org • Review your match list • Start your smart commute Note: Using your work email may grant access to more services and rewards.

STRNC.ORG

5

6

HARD TO FIND PEOPLE TO CARPOOL WITH STRNC has a database with thousands of commuters, so finding a carpool partner has never been easier.

Immediately see possible matches with no obligations.

I’LL HAVE TO COMMIT TO CARPOOLING EVERY DAY Customize how many days you want to carpool on STRNC.org. Make a schedule that works for you.

Carpooling just twice a week reduces greenhouse gases and costs!

I’LL BE STRANDED IN AN EMERGENCY If you have an unscheduled or unexpected change to your day, the Emergency Ride Home program through STRNC.org has your back.

I HAVE A CAR SO THERE IS NO NEED FOR ME TO CARPOOL Awesome! You need a car to carpool (if you’re going to be the driver). You’ll be able to share costs on things like gas and maintenance and do your part to reduce cars on the road.

7

EMERGENCY

RIDE HOME

8

HOW DOES ERH WORK? This FREE program is open to commuters when they get to work by carpool, vanpool, public transit, biking or walking.

WHEN CAN I GET A RIDE HOME? • You or a family member gets sick or has a crisis.

• Your carpool or vanpool driver has to unexpectedly leave early or stay late.

• You must work unscheduled overtime.

HOW CAN I GET AN ERH? Register in Share the Ride NC now, and when you need an ERH, call 919-485-RIDE for a live rep.

Note: Using your work email may grant access to more services and rewards.

Sign up at strnc.org to get your FREE ERH ride.

You may use up to six (6) per year.

Commuters from employers not enrolled in the free service receive one free ride per year. Employer registration is free and easy at gotriangle.org/ERH.

SCAN TO SIGN UP!

9

10

INSTRUCTIONS FOR GOPERKS GoPerks is an Incentive Program that rewards environmentally friendly commuters.

STRNC.org is a GoTriangle-supported website. If you’re already registered, just log in and track a trip. If you’re new, registering is simple and free. All you need is an email address!

Create a Trip Profile Enter some basic info about your vehicle and route, so we can calculate the positive environmental impact of your trip. After you create the profile and track a trip with it, you’ll be able to save it to use again for repeat trips—like your commute!

Track a trip Select My Commute Calendar from the “Log My Commute” dropdown toolbar. Select the icon that represents your commute, and drag it to today’s date on the calendar. Complete the requested information in the pop-up box and click Save.

Drag-and-Drop You can save multiple different trip profiles—commutes, your daily bike ride, weekend trips out of town. Then simply dragand-drop your trips onto the Commute Calendar so it’s always easy to earn your points.

Win incentives!

Under the Incentives toolbar, select Rewards to choose which prize drawings you want to enter. Click Enter Contest to purchase entries into that prize drawing. We’ll send you a reminder email at the end of the month just in case!

Note: Using your work email may grant access to more services and rewards.

11

12

Planning Your Trip • Find the carpool route and designated pickup points. This could be each member’s house or a common meeting point like a park-and-ride lot.

• Determine arrival and departure times. Allow extra time for traffic.

• Are you rotating driving responsibilities or is there a dedicated driver? If you are alternating, is it on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis?

• How many days of the week are you carpooling? While most carpools are all five days of the work week, your carpool might have odd days or hours.

• If you’re the driver, is the vehicle up to date on services and inspections?

Shared Commute Costs • How much will the non-driver pay to cover expenses of the driver? Are you just covering gas, or are other expenses being covered?

Communication and Emergency Situations • How do you all contact one another? Consider creating a group text.

• Do you have a “Carpool Captain” who coordinates communication?

• How long are you willing to wait if someone is running late? 2-5 minutes? More?

• What happens if the driver is sick or can’t make it? What happens when it comes to car troubles, maintenance or accidents?

• Be sure to register for Emergency Ride Home!

• Are detours allowed? (Such as a morning coffee run.)

Etiquette and Personal Preferences • If talking is allowed, what topics are off-limits? Politics, religion, work gossip, etc.

• Radio: On or off? Volume? What channels are okay? Who decides what plays?

• Smoking or non-smoking • If discussing the difference between Opossum and Possum, please be respectful.

13

notes to keep in your pouch

14

15

16

17

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS A BULL AND A POSSUM? Don’t be silly - that’s

IMPOSSUMBULL!

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

strnc.org | gotriangle.org/erh gotriangle.org/goperks | gotriangle.org/vanpool