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Traffic Rapport

Camaraderie, economy, convenience ... are there any good reasons not to carpool? While new trains, ferries and infrastructure offer hope to the traffic-bound, transportation planners say that the single biggest untapped resource for commuters already exists. It's in our cars. All those vehicles coming and going have empty seats. Some have three empties. Many have more. And while the almost-empty cars sit, their drivers stewing in gridlock, diamond-lane denizens have found a faster, more economical and downright more civilized way to get to work: the carpool. Setting up a carpool has never been easier. There are park-and-ride lots where carpoolers can meet and park for the day for free. Some employers offer incentives like gas money and free parking. And the privilege of whizzing by smugly in the diamond lane--who can put a price on that? Commuters at bigger companies may find commute companions on company bulletin boards. RIDES for Bay Area Commuters is a government-sponsored agency whose sole purpose is to help workers carpool. Would-be commuters plug in their vitals at the website--work hours, commuting route, whether they're willing to drive or share costs--and the handy computer will spit out a list of like-minded worker bees. Fill up a car with five people and voila!--you're only driving once a week. As a two-year ride-share veteran, I've found these tips useful in getting a pool started. First, assess the commitment level of potential carpool-mates. Did they sign up because they're serious, or are they thinking they'll get a freebie? To become a carpool-mate of mine a person must be willing to take a turn at the wheel. Second, is this human reliable? Get a feel for whether his or her job requires punctuality and reliability. If it sounds good, give it a try for a week. Sometimes you can luck out and get a good conversationalist, someone who likes books on tape or listens to NPR or, better yet, Monday Night Football in the fall. But even if they're devoted Rush Limbaugh listeners, the unbridled pleasure of the diamond lane has proven quite an incentive to overlook minor flaws. Congressman Henry Hyde gave my carpool more than a month of stimulating entertainment. And when is Monica's Story coming out on tape? (ML) [ Almanac Index | Metro | MetroActive Central | Archives ]