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1. How do I find a carpool partner in Pierce County?

Contact your co-workers. Talk to neighbors. Post a flyer at your cubicle or work bulletin board. Or complete a ride-match request application on RideshareOnline.com. It’s a free and confidential service that will help you find people in your area who want to share the ride.

2. What are the benefits of carpooling compared to driving alone or using public transportation?

Many people enjoy carpooling compared to other commute methods for the social aspect. If you’re driving with friends, neighbors, co-workers or other community members, you get the opportunity to catch up and connect while passing the commute time faster. 

Other benefits of carpooling:

• Save money by splitting fuel costs, tolls, parking fees, and other vehicle maintenance.

• Speed up your commute by using HOV lanes.

• Contribute positively to the environment by reducing the number of cars on the road and lowering carbon emissions.

• Catch up on a good book, get some work done or enjoy a power nap on days that you’re not the driver.

3. How do I determine the cost of my carpool trip and split expenses with my carpool partners?

When dividing the costs of a carpool, remember that there are more expenses than just gasoline. To be fair, all riders are expected to participate in cost sharing for the gasoline, tolls, parking, oil, service, and wear and tear. For help, refer to this guide from AAA. 

Discuss total costs and division of expenses with your carpool group. Once you determine each person’s cost share, agree to the frequency of payment, a recurring date for payment and the payment method. Ensuring the costs and payment schedule are clear and fully agreed to can help avoid problems in the future.

If driving is rotated equally between carpoolers and their personal vehicles, no money needs to be exchanged.

4. What are the health benefits of carpooling?

Carpooling can be a huge boost for your mental health! Traffic jams are never really fun. Why not let your co-worker do the driving now and again so you can arrive home at night refreshed and stress-free? Plus, carpooling can give you time to get to know your co-workers in a different light. Who knew Alice from accounting was a Deadhead? And then Stephen from sales told you of that new mystery podcast — sharing podcasts is another fun aspect of carpooling!