Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you use a trip planning tool like our trip calendar or your HR person at work to find a rideshare group, the benefits are the same:

• 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.

• Have fun socializing, singing some carpool karaoke, listening to podcasts, or catching up on social media (if you’re not the driver!)

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Contact your co-workers. Talk to neighbors. Post a "Riders Wanted" flyer at your work bulletin board. Or complete a ride-match request application on our trip calendar Trip Planner or RideshareOnline.com. They are both free and confidential services that will help you find people in your area who want to share the ride.

Everyone's comfort level is different. Try meeting at a local coffee shop with potential carpoolers to get acquainted prior to riding together.

Your carpool will operate smoothly if you establish a few rules in advance. For example, decide on policies about smoking, the radio, wait times and driving rotation. Agree on vacation plans and notification about absences. A few minutes now will save time and headaches later.

Discuss with your carpool partners how to distribute the costs of your commute fairly. You can do this by taking turns as the carpool driver, or by having the driver charge each rider a fare that you all agree on. 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. 

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Yes, it’s the law. You need insurance for your car and for your passengers. Check with your insurance agent to make sure that you have adequate coverage. Carpool riders may want to see if they qualify for a discount because they are not driving to work each day.

Some people only want to ride and are willing to reimburse part of the costs, while others prefer to share the driving. If driving is rotated equally between carpoolers and their personal vehicles, no money needs to be exchanged.

It is up to the group of people in the carpool to decide what their pickup points will be. Remember, they should be convenient for all pooling members.

We recommend that carpoolers pick a leave time and stick to it. If problems continue, then try to find a resolution by talking with the group members.

We recommend a four-week trial period. This will give you a chance to knock out the kinks and test the waters.

Establishing a trial period can help alleviate this concern. That way, if one or more do not like the situation, it’s easier to leave it.

Yes! You still experience the benefits of carpooling with short drives, such as not fighting for parking spaces, splitting gas prices, and lowering your carbon footprint!

If you commute sustainably to a worksite in Pierce County, you are eligible for an Emergency Ride Home. All you need to do is sign up for the program on Ride Together Pierce's trip calendar, and on a day you take a sustainable commute, if an emergency arises, you can log onto the trip calendar to request a Lyft voucher to apply to your Lyft app on your phone. The vouchers cover $100 per trip, not including gratuity, and is capped at three rides per calendar year. You can also arrange your own ride home (can be Uber, Lyft or any other local taxi company) and submit the receipt for reimbursement on the trip calendar. Learn more about the program here.