A vanpool is a group of individuals, usually 7 to 15, who have agreed to ride to work together in a van. Vanpooling is a convenient option to driving alone. And, depending on how much money you spend on parking, gas, etc. to commute alone, vanpooling can be an economical option. If you wish to set up a vanpool, RIDE Solutions will assist you every step of the way in filling vanpool seats and developing rider agreements.

There are several ways of operating and financing a vanpool fleet, providing plenty of options to fit your needs:

• Owner-operated vans - An individual leases or purchases a van and operates the van independently. Riders generally meet at a central location and pay the owner a set monthly fee.
• Third-party vans - A vanpool "vendor" leases the vanpool vehicle for a monthly fee that includes the vehicle operating cost, insurance, and maintenance. The vendor can contract directly with one or more people. The monthly lease fee is paid by the group of users.
• Employer-provided vans - The employer (or a group of employers) buys or leases vans for employees' commute use. The employer organizes the vanpool riders and insures and maintains the vehicles. The employer may charge a fee to ride in the van or subsidize the service. Check with your company's Human Resources department. Or, if you would like RIDE Solutions to discuss this option with your employer, let us know.

We can use our GIS system to map potential routes and identify potential drivers. If the vanpool is to be shared by employees of several companies, we can use our current database to find pockets of interested riders.

Employers who are interested in forming vanpools can submit lists of their employees, against which RIDE Solutions can provide analysis of the best vanpool opportunities, and how many vans might be needed to serve all potential riders.

In addition, once a vanpool is up and running, RIDE Solutions can match new members against vans with empty seats to help keep vans as full - and economical - as possible.

Of course, vanpool riders who are registered with RIDE Solutions can take advantage of our Guaranteed Ride Home and other services, just like all members.!