Carpools |
| Q. |
What
is a carpool? |
| A. |
A carpool is any
group of two or more
people who ride together
to and from work
in a personal vehicle
(e.g., personal automobile,
SUV, or truck). |
|
|
| Q. |
Why
should I carpool? |
| A. |
Carpooling saves
in parking fees,
gasoline, and vehicle
wear and tear.
Members of a carpool
can use the extra
time to relax, read,
pay bills, or just
to take a few deep
breaths. The frustration
of commuting alone
in congested traffic
is reduced when you
share a ride with
others. |
| Q. |
How
much money will I actually
save by carpooling? |
| A. |
Carpooling frequently
costs less than what
you are paying to
commute alone. Try
the Commuting
Cost Calculator to
find out exactly
how much money you
can save. |
| Q. |
How
do I get started carpooling? |
| A. |
Request a free Rideshare
Matchlist.
Indicate your preference
to join a carpool
as a driver or
rider, and you'll
receive a list
of commuters who
live in your area,
with similar work
destinations, and
who are interested
in ridesharing.
|
Vanpools |
| Q. |
What
is a vanpool? |
| A. |
A vanpool is a group
of no less than seven
and no more than 15
people, who commute
to and from work together
in a vehicle (e.g.,
a van or mini-van).
By state law, the vanpool
driver must be a commuter,
whose operation of
the vehicle is incidental
to their own commute. |
| Q. |
How
much does it cost? |
| A. |
Usually the cost
is considerably less
than what you are paying
to commute to work
alone. Try the Commuting
Cost Calculator to
find out how much money
you can save. |
| Q. |
How
are the fares collected? |
| A. |
The vanpool driver
or coordinator (another
passenger) collects
your monthly fare at
the beginning of each
month. |
| Q. |
Could
my fare change? |
| A. |
Changes in gasoline,
insurance, or maintenance
costs could cause a
change in your fare.
The number of active
riders also affects
vanpool fares. |
| Q. |
What
is my commitment to
the van? |
| A. |
In most cases, the
driver and riders make
a month-to-month commitment
with the coordinator.
You may leave the vanpool,
by giving the driver
the requested amount
of notice at anytime. |
| Q. |
Who
owns the vans? |
| A. |
Many vans are owned
or leased by a commuter
or group of commuters;
some are owned and/or
organized by private
leasing companies,
private employers,
government agencies,
or private associations. |
| Q. |
Is eating
or smoking permitted
in the van? |
| A. |
You and the other
riders decide on the
specific rules pertaining
to the operation of
the vanpool. |
| Q. |
Who
does the driving? |
| A. |
A licensed driver,
who is also a commuter
like you drives. A
commercial driver’s
license (CDL) is not
a requirement under
state law. However,
the driver should have
a safe driving record
and be committed to
the responsibility
of driving up to 14
other people to and
from work each day.
The driver may drive
every day or share
the driving with designated
back-up drivers. |
| Q. |
What
are the driver's basic
responsibilities? |
| A. |
Drivers are responsible
for picking up and
dropping off the passengers
at agreed-upon locations,
arranging for van maintenance,
fueling the van and
collecting fares. |
| Q. |
Does
the van provide door-to-door
service? |
| A. |
Each group sets
its own route and schedule.
Most vans have a common
meeting point, which
cuts down on overall
travel time, while
others may go door-to-door. |
| Q. |
What
happens to the vanpool
group when the driver
is sick or on vacation? |
| A. |
Usually, each vanpool
has back-up drivers.
They are passengers
who occasionally drive
the van in exchange
for a reduced fare. |
| Q. |
What
if I have to work late
or have an emergency? |
| A. |
Check in advance
with your employer
or your local Transportation
Management Association
at 1.800.245.POOL to
see if they have an "Emergency
Ride Home" program
to offer to you and
to others in your vanpool
group. An on-call taxi
service or an employer-owned
vehicle may be made
available to you in
an emergency circumstance,
at a low or no cost. |
| Q. |
What
happens if I'm sick? |
| A. |
To prevent unnecessary
travel time delays
to the other riders,
please call the driver
or coordinator and
provide advanced notice. |
| Q. |
What
happens when I go on
vacation? |
| A. |
Vanpool riders reserve
their seat by paying
a monthly fare. Contact
your vanpool coordinator
for specific rules
pertaining to the operation
of your vanpool. |
| Q. |
How
do I get started? |
| A. |
Request a free Rideshare
Matchlist. Indicate
your preference to
join a vanpool as
a driver or passenger,
and you'll receive
a list of vanpools
serving in your home
and work area. The
driver or coordinator
of the van is listed
as the contact person.
The NJ Transit
Vanpool Sponsorship
Program provides
information on financial
incentive. |
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