Carpool

When two or more people commute in a car for work or school purposes, it’s called a carpool.

Arrangements may vary. One person may drive and split costs such as gas and parking with passengers or carpoolers may choose to alternate driving and not split costs.

Carpoolers may meet at a central location or pick up individuals from homes and work sites. Carpools can include family members. In addition to the traditional commute-related carpools, this site may be used for special events, such as concerts or conferences. Please contact CommuteKern to have your event listed.

Most people who carpool save time and money, and enjoy having company on the road. Compared to vanpools, carpools are more flexible about how often someone participates, the route traveled, and the number of required stops.

Some companies offer premier parking for carpools and may help with a guaranteed ride home in case an emergency arises during the day, or if the employee is asked to work overtime. Even so, we suggest that people who carpool have a backup transportation plan.

In California, carpools may use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes. While not an incentive in Kern County, it can be for commutes to other areas (like Los Angeles).

Be safe and sane when carpooling. 

Visit us often as we build our carpool and vanpool databases and unveil special promotions and events throughout the year.

Here are some helpful tips for you:

• Determine your meeting place(s), route and schedule.
• Successful carpools/vanpools typically use no more than four pickup points.
• Put it in writing. Here is a sample Carpool/Vanpool Policy statement.
• Be on time.
• Decide how long the driver must wait.
• Don’t disturb neighbors by honking your horn if a rider is running late.
• Vanpool/Carpool drivers must behave responsibly and be dependable.
• Organizational and communication skills come in handy for working with a group of individuals. Make certain you have a substitute driver, maps, schedules, vehicle maintenance schedule, insurance, employers, and financial arrangements.
• Communicate: Have a Carpool/Vanpool Participant Contact List, give advance notice of days you won’t carpool, speak up if something is not working out.
• Vehicles for carpooling/vanpooling must be maintained for road safety, reliability, and cleanliness.
• Drive carefully: Speeding, unsafe lane changes, and drinking alcohol should not be tolerated.
• Vanpool for commute purposes only.
• Respect each other’s time and run errands after your commute.
• Enlist help from your employer. They can add to the success of your program by offering Commuter Choice tax benefits, an Emergency Ride Home program, and by committing to considering vanpool participation when making schedule changes.
• Have a backup driver and/or ride to and from work to cover absences for vacations, illness, family emergencies, overtime, car repairs and so on.
• Be realistic; be honest. If you have demands on your time (flexibility, overtime, personal life, entertainment), then perhaps your commute needs would be better met with a rideshare alternative like telecommuting, flexible schedule, public transit, cycling, or carpooling anywhere from once to a few times each week.