Benefits of Carpooling and How to Get Started

 

With traffic seemingly increasing by the day, even life in the fast lane seems to be getting crowded. You may have looked longingly at the carpool lane, where there is plenty of space and only a few cars whizzing by every now and then. But a potentially faster commute is just one of the many benefits of carpooling. Carpooling also has environmental, financial and social benefits that may make it worth considering incorporating into your life.

What is carpooling?

Carpooling involves sharing a regular route—be it to work, school, or somewhere else—with others heading in the same direction. Participants in a carpooling group often take turns using their vehicles, share in gas and maintenance costs, or share responsibility and usage in some other way that everyone agrees to in advance.

Environmental Benefits of Carpooling

Let’s look at some of the environmental benefits of carpooling that can contribute to a cleaner, greener future:

• Reduced emissions: Since only one vehicle is active per day per carpool, starting a carpool can help reduce the number of vehicles on the road and therefore emissions.
• Reduced fuel or energy consumption: For similar reasons as above, reducing the number of cars on the road each day can also help reduce overall energy demand and consumption.
• Fewer traffic jams on the roads: Reducing the number of cars on the roads has a concrete benefit that we have already mentioned: less traffic, which also makes the journey much more pleasant for all other road users.
• Improved fuel efficiency: Another side effect of reducing traffic is that fewer stop-and-go trips usually lead to improved fuel efficiency . So carpooling doesn't just help you use less gas—if enough people join in, you can get more out of each fill-up.
• Reducing the load on parking infrastructure: By reducing the number of cars on the road, urban infrastructure currently designed to handle this traffic volume (such as parking spaces) can be converted to alternative uses (such as more housing in an inner-city area).

Financial Benefits of Carpooling

If the idea of driving in an environmentally friendly way is not convincing enough for you, you may be interested in another type of environmental friendliness – the financial benefits of carpooling:

• Reduced fuel costs: Because you drive your car less often as a carpool member, you also have to fill up your car less , which can significantly reduce the burden on your wallet.
• Lower maintenance costs: For the same reason as above, your car will likely also require less maintenance and repairs since it will not experience as much wear and tear.
• Greater fuel efficiency: As mentioned above, reducing stop-and-go traffic can improve fuel efficiency for everyone in the long run.
• Possible tax credits for carpooling: Depending on the driver's state of residence, carpool participants may be eligible for tax credits. However, keep in mind that not all states offer carpooling tax credits. It's helpful to check with your state's authorities to see if these credits are offered and what requirements you must meet.

Social Benefits of Carpooling

Humans are social creatures by nature. One positive effect of carpooling that is sometimes overlooked is the social benefits this form of cooperation can bring:

• Meet new friends and build community: Whether you carpool with people you already know, like your neighbor, sharing rides with someone on a regular basis offers many opportunities to develop or strengthen your bonds with that person. You might grow closer to a friend, discover new depths with a coworker, or meet new friends you wouldn't have otherwise met.
• Less stress on your commute: Driving through morning or evening traffic can be a stressful experience. If you can take turns doing this, you can relax and unwind during the drive when it's not your turn. You can also use the carpool lane where it's available to minimize the chance of being stuck in traffic for too long. Finally, even when it's your turn, having company can help ease the tension.

Possible Disadvantages of Carpooling

After discussing the various benefits of carpooling, it is only fair to also discuss some of the potential disadvantages:

• Coordination: Coordinating with other people, creating schedules, organizing replacements and keeping everyone accountable can be a real challenge. The larger the group, the more difficult coordination is in most cases. On the other hand, a group that is too small may not give each member enough rest between riding days or not have enough replacements available if someone can't make it.
• Personality issues: Some people are more difficult to share a commute with than others. Personalities don't always mesh, and chances are you'll end up sharing your commute (which can take up several hours of your day) with someone you find unpleasant or who may distract you from the traffic.
• Health and personal space: Individual health concerns may lead some people to decide against sharing a car with others.

Tips for Finding a Carpool

Finding a carpool nearby can be as simple as asking your friends and family if you have any common destinations or routes. If so, you can try to gauge their interest to find out how many of them would be willing to carpool with you. You can also try asking around among your coworkers, especially if any of them live in the same direction as you.

Alternatively, you can check social media to see if there are any specific local groups for carpooling (there often are). If you go this route, you may want to find social groups that have been vetted for your safety. The good news is that these groups are often organized by neighborhood for convenience.

In summary

The benefits of carpooling can transform your commute. You may save on costs like gas and repairs while feeling good about reducing your environmental impact. You might even make a few new friends along the way.