Carpool Facts

Carpooling helps reduce traffic.

Carpooling, also called ride sharing, refers to a group of people traveling in one car, as opposed to each person driving alone. Carpooling saves money and also reduces the damage to the environment.

Benefits

Carpooling saves money by reducing your gasoline, car maintenance and parking costs. According to eRideShare, a 40-mile round-trip commute costs more than $21 each day, not including tolls or parking. Carpooling also helps the environment by reducing emissions.

Considerations

Planning and setting boundaries can make carpooling more successful, according to Colorado Pollution Prevention. For example, discuss preferences for eating, music, smoking and talking before establishing a carpool. Carpool members can either alternate driving or reimburse the driver for expenses.

Getting Started

If you're interested in carpooling to work, ask if any carpooling programs exist within your company. If not, search for carpooling partners on the Internet at sites such as Carpool World, CarpoolConnect, eRideshare or NuRide. In addition, consider asking other parents to organize carpools for school or sports practice.

References

• eRideShare: FAQ
• Colorado Pollution Prevention: Carpooling
• Green Your: Carpool Instead of Driving Solo