The first week of school has come to an end, and you may be wondering if there is an easier way to make your daily commute. If you’re looking for ways to save money and share driving responsibilities, carpooling or vanpooling may be for you.
Once you get past the stereotype of a bunch of coworkers crammed into a tiny car, spilling coffee on each other, there are many reasons to consider sharing a ride with your coworkers and fellow students.
Some of these include:
* Reduced transportation costs. If you include vehicle wear and tear, maintenance costs, insurance, gas and permit costs, carpooling and vanpooling can significantly reduce your monthly transportation costs. Commuters can estimate their commuting costs through the matching services’ “Savings Calculator”
* Reduced carbon footprint – the impact of your activity on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced.
* Vanpoolers will receive a free, premium parking space
* The Department has free guaranteed-ride-home programs available for users of alternative transportation (some restrictions apply).
* Beginning in January 2008, vanpooling payments by UNM faculty and staff can be made automatically using pre-tax dollars.
If you’re interested in carpooling or vanpooling to work but don’t know of any classmates or coworkers who are interested in riding with you, UNM Parking and Transportation Services has a new tool to assist you.
UNM Parking and Transportation Services announced that a free online rideshare matching service is available to all staff, faculty and students. The service is located at the Department’s Web site, Parking and Transportation Services, in the Alternative Transportation section.
Using the rideshare Web site, commuters interested in carpooling or vanpooling to campus can locate other students, staff members or faculty in their community. The privacy of people using the Web site is protected – last names and addresses are not displayed and people do not have to provide phone numbers or email addresses when signing up. The Department also has consultant, Helen Abrahamson, available to assist you in learning how carpooling, vanpooling, or other alternative ways of getting to campus might work for you.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; e-mail: bhendrix@unm.edu