| Starting a ride share or car pool program at your work | | | | your interest in creating a ride share program, why |
| is one of the easiest, yet least utilized ways for people | | | | people should participate and to contact you if they |
| to save gas, especially considering there really isn't | | | | are interested or have question. |
| much work involved in setting it up. | | | | Obviously, in order for the carpool program to be |
| First off - why should you spend your personal time | | | | successful, you're going to need to have enough |
| setting up a carpool program for your work? Aside | | | | people participating (especially in the beginning) so I |
| from the obvious reason of saving gas, here are a | | | | would recommend using all of the above if you are |
| couple of benefits to taking part in a ride share | | | | serious about starting the program. |
| program: | | | | Now that you've got a whole bunch of interested |
| | | | people, try and create groups of three to four people |
| 1. You can ride in HOV lanes on the highway, which will | | | | based on geographic proximity. There's no point in |
| more than likely reduce your commuting time. | | | | trying to carpool if you have to drive completely |
| 2. Assuming you're on a schedule that rotates drivers, | | | | across town to pick someone up. |
| you'll be able to kick back, relax and let someone else | | | | From there, get each group to work out some sort of |
| do the driving (for the most part). | | | | driving schedule - e.g. each person in the group gets a |
| 3. Since you'll be driving your car less, you'll reduce the | | | | certain week for each month. Go with whatever |
| wear and tear on your vehicle and extend its life. | | | | works best. From here, you should be set! |
| 4. You get some "bonding time" with your co-workers. | | | | Finally, if you need any additional incentive for |
| Now that you know why you should start a ride share | | | | attempting to start a ride share program at work |
| program, how do you go about actually getting it all | | | | (aside from the fact it's easy to do and has many |
| together? Here are some simple and easy ways you | | | | benefits), here's one final reason - it'll make you look |
| can go about getting your co-workers to participate: | | | | good in your employer's eyes. |
| | | | If you go through all the trouble of setting up this |
| 1. Contact your HR department and let them know you | | | | program on your own time, I think it could certainly be |
| are interested in starting a carpool program at work. | | | | something that you bring up during your evaluations. It |
| 2. Leave a note in the lunchroom or on the company | | | | shows you're proactive and that you can start |
| bulletin board letting people know about the potential | | | | something of use from scratch. |
| program and to contact you if they are interested. | | | | Give it a try - I think you'll be surprised by the response |
| 3. Write an article for the company newsletter stating | | | | you'll receive. |