1. What is ridesharing and why should I do this?
Sharing a ride with other commuters - either in a carpool, vanpool, bus or train, is known as ridesharing. The benefits of ridesharing include: reducing commuting costs, reducing wear and tear on your vehicle, entering a more stress free commute, and helping your community by reducing traffic congestion and the amount of carbon dioxide emited into the air, which helps address the threat of (CO₂) Global Warming.
2. What is carpooling?
When two or more people share a ride to a common or nearby destination, that's a carpool. A carpooling arrangement is both simple to set up and very flexible. The number of passengers may vary, drivers and vehicles may rotate, and expenses may or may not be shared. Your carpool may operate every day or only when it's convenient.
3. Who does the driving?
In most carpools, each person takes a turn driving their own car, although some carpools have one driver only.
4. But I don't have a car!
No problem. Join a carpool as a rider and pay your share of the gas and parking. When you sign into CarpoolMatchNW.org just check "Ride Only".
5. How much will I save by carpooling?
Figuring gas, upkeep, repairs, and parking, you could save hundreds of dollars a year by carpooling - not to mention your sanity and the planet! Click on our commute cost calculator and check it out.
6. What is vanpooling?
A vanpool is a group of five to fifteen commuters who ride to work together each day. Vanpools are generally more structured and formalized in their organization than carpools, due to the cost of operating and insuring the van.
7. Are there any carpools or vanpools coming from my area?
Sign up at CarpoolMatchNW.org, and you will be included in a database with thousands of other commuters interested in carpooling. You will receive a matchlist with the names and e-mails or phone numbers of those commuters with whom you are matched (home addresses are never included on the matchlists and home phone numbers may also be excluded, as well). Today, commuters travel very far distances to work. So don't think you are alone just because you commute a million miles to work; there may be others in your shoes!
8. Could anyone possibly have a schedule like mine?
Those with irregular schedules are better candidates for carpooling than vanpooling. Even if there is just one day a week where you work more "regular" hours, you could arrange a carpool for that particular day. More people are working flexible hours; you never know if there may be someone in a situation similar to your own.
9. What if...

• You need your car during the day?
Be the designated driver of your carpool and drive your car every day. Share the expenses with your rider(s).
• You take your child to daycare?
Try making the daycare center the meeting place for your carpool. Or, meet at a centralized location, such as a Park and Ride lot.
• You get into an uncomfortable carpool situation?
Establish rules before you carpool and avoid problems in the long run. You can even carpool on a trial basis before making a commitment. Check out our Interview Tips for more ideas.
• You need your car for personal appointments or errands?
Plan activities on specific days and rideshare the rest of the time. Sharing a ride for just two or three days a week still saves you a bundle.
• You need to leave work quickly, due to an emergency at home, school, etc.?
Check with your employer to see if an Emergency Ride Home Program exists for regular ridesharers. For more information on this type of program contact TriMet, C-Tran, Rogue Valley Transportation District, Mid-Valley Rideshare, or SMART.