Vanpool Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a vanpool?
- What is the benefit to me to vanpool?
- How much is the RTC VANPOOL subsidy?
- What are the vehicles like?
- What are the driver's basic responsibilities?
- Can anybody drive the van?
- What are the vanpool members responsibilities?
- What is my commitment if I lease a van?
- Once I join a vanpool, what is my commitment?
- What happens when a driver is ill? Or passengers? And what about vacations?
- What will it cost?
- What are some ways to organize picking up and dropping off people on vanpool days?
- How can I form a vanpool?
- What are good vanpooling tips?
A vanpool is generally a group of between 7 to
15 people with similar travel patterns who ride to work or other places
together in a shared vehicle (most often a van).
The money savings from vanpooling are often substantial when
compared to commuting alone, and you will also lessen the stress of driving to
work everyday. Vanpooling gives you the
chance to snooze during your commute or catch up on reading. By vanpooling, you play an important part in
helping ease traffic congestion, cutting fuel consumption, and reducing air
pollution and global warming.Ridesharing is also a great way to network professionally and share
business ideas and opportunities. Driving with company can make trip a more pleasant and enjoyable
experience.
The RTC provides a substantial subsidy for each vanpool-up
to $3.60 per person, per day if all of the miles driven are within Washoe
County. If some of the commute trip
goes outside of Washoe County, the subsidy is prorated based on the ratio of
the miles driven within Washoe County to the total miles traveled to a maximum
subsidy of $2.88 per person per day.
The vehicles in the RTC VANPOOL program are provided by
VPSI. They are usually 8 to
15-passenger vans that are designed for commuting. Some have bench seats; others have individual reclining captain's
chairs. For more information, contact
VPSI at 1-800-VAN-RIDE (826-7433) or www.VPSIinc.com website.
Drivers pick up and deliver the passengers, and
arrange for van maintenance. (The RTC's
vanpool provider, VPSI, pays for maintenance charges.) The van is usually housed at the primary
driver's residence at night and can be used for personal use up to
approximately 200 miles per month.
The main driver and alternate drivers must be approved by
the RTC's vanpool provider, VPSI. All
drivers must be at least 25 years old, in reasonable health, with good driving
records. No special licenses are
required. For more information, contact
VPSI at 1-800-VAN-RIDE (826-7433) or www.VPSIinc.com website.
Each vanpool group needs a primary driver; at least
one back-up driver (preferably two);
someone who will lease the vehicle and collect the passenger
payments; and someone who will be the vanpool coordinator (maintain
ridership records in order to be eligible for a subsidy from the RTC). Often, one person has more than one
role. For example, it is common for the
primary driver to also lease the van and act as vanpool coordinator. Primary drivers, particularly when they
perform other duties, usually commute free (with the lease payment divided
between the other vanpool participants).
Leasing a van is more like a month to month rental agreement
than a traditional car lease. You will
be required to pay a monthly lease, but money is collected from the other
vanpool participants, so you do not pay all of the money out of your own
pocket.
Vanpools operate on a month to month basis and require
a month's payment in advance. Passengers need to give the driver and/or vanpool coordinator adequate notice before withdrawing
from a vanpool.
Each vanpool is created with back-up drivers for
such times.
Exact costs will vary with each vanpool based on
the amount of the van lease and the gas that is used, and how many participants
there are in the vanpool. Lease prices
are based on the size of the vehicle and the miles it will be driven each
month. The RTC provides a substantial
subsidy for each vanpool, up to $3.60 per person, per day if all of the miles
driven are within Washoe County. If
some of the commute trip goes outside of Washoe County, the subsidy is prorated
based on the miles driven within Washoe County to the total miles traveled to a
maximum subsidy of $2.88 per person per day. Contact RTC staff at 335-1920 or 348-POOL for a cost estimate.
There are a number of different ways to manage
the logistics. If vanpool members live
close to each other, the driver can simply come by each person's house to pick
them up. If that's not feasible, then vanpoolers
can meet at one of the member's houses or a centrally located public
place. Keep in mind that there are also
some park-and-ride (see homepage download link) lots throughout the region that can serve as a meeting
location. On the other end of the trip,
there can be multiple stops or one centrally located spot for dropping people
off.
Register with RTC RIDESHARE. From there, you'll be guided through the ridematch process. Select names on your matchlist and send them
an email letting them know that you are interested in forming a vanpool. You can
also contact your human resources department at work and ask them to help
promote ridesharing. Once you have a
group of four people with similar commute patterns interested in forming a
vanpool, notify the RTC (335-1920) and your prospective vanpool route will be
posted on the RTC RIDESHARE website. This may accelerate you finding the other participants necessary to form
a vanpool. If you already have a group
of seven or more participants, call 335‑1920 to get your vanpool started.
Take care of the van. Passengers should dispose of newspapers,
coffee cups and anything else they brought. Drivers must take the van in for maintenance, keep usage logs and fill
the van with gas.
Sign up for Guaranteed Ride Home.
If you vanpooled to work and something unexpected comes up that
prevents you from being able to vanpool home, RTC will pay for your taxi ride
home. Click on the Guaranteed Ride Home
icon on "My Page" for more information.
Establish some rules
Each vanpool member should have a
chance to express his/her needs and concerns. Vanpoolers should agree
upon certain ground rules at the outset such as:
- Food, coffee, smoking and perfume/cologne usage
- Radio choices
- How long drivers will wait for tardy passengers
- Who is notified if someone is sick or unable to vanpool on a given trip? How are they contacted?
- Driving safely
- Please encourage everyone to use seatbelts for their safety and the safety of others.
- While you should not be a "backseat driver," you should immediately address any concerns about a driver's driving practices.
Follow good vanpool etiquette
Every vanpool is unique, but good etiquette is
essential to keep it running smoothly. Good etiquette takes into account communication, courtesy, and the
safety of everyone in the vanpool.
Do:
- Communicate with your fellow vanpoolers. If you're running a few minutes late, call them and let them know. If you can't vanpool on a particular day due to a schedule conflict, give your vanpool partners ample notice so they can make other arrangements.
- Drive safely at all times.
- Keep your vehicle clean and in good condition.
- Respect any rules the vanpool has agreed upon, such as waiting time and restrictions on smoking, eating, or drinking.
Don't:
- Make a habit of being late.
- Ask your vanpoolers to make extra stops along the way so you can take care of personal errands.
- Bring up controversial topics such as religion or politics unless you know your vanpoolers very well. While some people may enjoy discussing or even debating the issues, others may prefer a quieter commute.
- Have lengthy cell phone conversations while you're in the vanpool.