Are you driving solo during your daily commute and watching in envy as carpoolers cruise by in the US 36 Express Lanes?
Sure, you’ve considered carpooling–it saves time, money and you can enjoy being a passenger every once in a while. But where do you start? Commuting Solutions is your trusted transportation resource, and we’ve helped hundreds of local employees find their carpool matches.
With the HOV (that’s High Occupancy Vehicle) rules changing on January 1, 2017, current twosome carpoolers will soon be searching for another buddy. The new HOV 3 rules mean that in order to travel for free in the US 36 Express Lanes, there must be at least three passengers in the vehicle.
Whether you’re looking to make your carpool a threesome or you want to just get started, here are a few ways other carpoolers have found their match:
1. Recruit from your network
This may be obvious, but you’d be surprised at who you’ll meet by just putting the word out there. Let your co-workers and friends know you’re looking for a carpool buddy – email or post within your company, post on Facebook, LinkedIn or Nextdoor.
2. Register your trip on MyWayToGo.org
MyWaytoGo.org can help you find registered users who are either part of an existing pool or are looking for a buddy. When you register on MyWaytoGo.org, you become part of a regional database with over 10,000 users. To post your interest in carpooling, enter your starting location, ending location and the details for when you would want to meet. The site will then show you existing carpools and potential carpool buddies you can contact. And, when you “favorite” your trip, others searching for a buddy can find you.
And, better yet, from now until the end of January 2017, Commuting Solutions is offering cash incentives for new carpools. Yes, you can earn up to $75 just for carpooling! Incentives are also available for vanpooling and transit. To receive your incentive, fill out this short application and track eight carpool trips using MyWayToGo.org.
Short of hitchhiking, there are many ways to find a buddy or three and make for a more enjoyable commute. The more solo drivers we can get into carpools, the less congestion we’ll have on our highway, and that’s good for us and our environment.
Still need help? Feel free to drop us a line at info@commutingsolutions.org.
Happy Travels!