Ride Sharing Makes $ense!

What is Ride Sharing?

Ride Sharing is a new term for what used to be called carpooling. Sharing rides, whether to work, to a recreational activity, or to run errands is much less expensive than driving alone.

Even if you split the cost with one other person, the savings is substantial. Add more people and you can save even more. It’s better for the environment too with fewer cars on the road and less pollution.

How do you find people to share your ride?

At work – ask around at work to see if there are co-workers who could share your commute. Even one or two days a week will make a difference. Check with your Human Resources department about starting a Ride Board. Check with HR to find out if a Ride Sharing system could be set up.

Errands – call, email or text a friend or neighbor when you have errands to do, especially when you might be headed to Ithaca, Syracuse or Binghamton. Errands are more fun with friends and much more affordable if you have several people in the car.

Activities – if you or your children are involved in an activity, check with others in the group to see if they would consider ride sharing.

Vanpooling

What is a vanpool?

A vanpool is a newer transportation service that can work for a group of 5 to 15 people who need to commute to the same area but who do not live on a fixed bus route. Commuting by vanpool will save you money and if you are not the driver, you will have time to read, work, chat, sleep or do something else.

Currently VPSI, a vanpool company, works with Cornell University and TCAT (Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit).

How does it work?

A minimum of 5 people agree to share a van, which is provided for and maintained by VPSI. Someone agrees to be the main driver. Others can be back up drivers. The group splits the cost monthly.

A group may organize themselves and contact VPSI to set up a contract or an individual can contact VPSI and they will try and match you up with an existing vanpool. Call 1-800-826-7433 or check out http://www.vanride.com/Commuter/SearchVans2.asp

People who work at Cornell may be interested in Cornell’s vanpooling program.

The TCAT community vanpool program is for anyone who travels to and/from Tompkins County.