The joy of carpooling

The joy of carpooling

Driving to work can be stressful and tiring, especially in winter. If public transit is not a viable option, the best alternative may be to share the pain with another driver! Many Carpool Zone users have made lasting friendships through carpooling together, and enjoy multiple benefits of spending less time behind the wheel!

Claudia and Sue share the drive between Burlington and Markham every day, which is about 200 km round trip, and Claudia says it has changed her life. “Not only can we take advantage of the HOV lanes,” she says, “we’re also saving a fortune on gas and having fun to boot! While you give up a bit of personal freedom, you quickly adjust because the benefits so outweigh the loss of freedom.”

Claudia is convinced that if people realized how easy it is to set up a workable system, more of them would carpool. And the web-based system, CarpoolZone.ca, makes it safe and easy to find a match. All you need to do to get started is enter the specifics of your commute: origin, destination, days per week, departure and arrival times, and whether you’re a driver or a passenger. Then sit back and wait to see whether there is someone with similar requirements already registered in the system.

The more people that are registered, the better the chances are that everyone will find someone who has the same or similar route to/from work.

Give it a try during Carpool Week – February 7 – 11, 2011.

Carpool etiquette

Ahhh, where would we be without rules?

Once you have been introduced to each other via the Carpool Zone website, and have established that your commute times and locations are compatible, it might be a good idea to meet face-to-face to discuss details over a coffee or a cup of tea.

Since you could be spending a significant amount of time together, it makes sense to come to an agreement about what can be done in the car, like eating, drinking or smoking. Is anyone sensitive to perfume, for example?

Be up front about whether you prefer silence to conversation, and determine which radio stations and music types are acceptable to everyone (or take turns choosing the station). Respect each others’ requirements for a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

It may seem pretty basic, but make an effort to keep your car clean, in good repair and filled with enough gas for each trip. And if you don’t drive carefully and responsibly, you risk losing your carpool buddy!

Be patient; it usually takes a few weeks for everyone’s routine to gel. And remember, you don’t have to carpool every day. Find out what works best for you and your new friends!

Celebrate Carpool Week (Feb. 7 – 11, 2011)!