In 2008, more than 100 new vanpools have been formed in reaction to high gas prices and increased traffic congestion - nearly double the number established in 2007. That brings the total number of vanpools operating in the region to 500, a significant milestone that represents thousands of vehicles kept off of congested roads every day...
In 2008, more than 100 new vanpools have been formed in reaction to high gas prices and increased traffic congestion - nearly double the number established in 2007. That brings the total number of vanpools operating in the region to 500, a significant milestone that represents thousands of vehicles kept off of congested roads every day.
“Thanks to smart commuters and supportive employers, we’ve hit a regional milestone and hope to see the trend continue,” says Kevin Green , executive director of The Clean Air Campaign. “Vanpools are an important part of the region’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, and they are an especially smart commute choice in light of current gas prices.”
Vanpools, a group of seven to 15 people who commute together on a regular basis in a van, are a critical part of the region’s effort to improve air quality and ease traffic because the average vanpool can effectively remove as many as 14 single passenger vehicles off the road during peak rush hours.
Typically, one person volunteers to be the driver or coordinator of the van, rented from one of four local companies. Riders pay a monthly fee that varies based on the distance traveled and the number of riders in the vanpool. Vanpools often receive financial support from employers, transportation management associations (TMAs) and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA). Thanks to these subsidies and incentives, certain vanpools have seats available for as little as $50 per month – less than the cost of a single tank of gas. Other vanpools have a cost per seat that approaches $150 per month, still far below average monthly commute costs for solo drivers. In addition to the cost savings, riders are discovering benefits including a faster commute in the HOV lane, new friendships and networking opportunities, and less stress.
“Vanpooling saves me about $750 per month in gas, not to mention the savings in car maintenance,” says Margie Varnado, an Emory employee who commutes 120 miles roundtrip from Jackson . “Most of our riders sleep on the way in to work and arrive relaxed and ready for their day. Once people make the switch to a vanpool, they love it and don’t want to go back to driving alone.”
In many cases, commuters can find an operating vanpool on the road that meets their needs by registering with the regional service RideSmart (www.MyRideSmart.com). However, to start a new vanpool, simply contact The Clean Air Campaign to get information about insurance, maintenance and loaner vehicles. The organization will connect interested commuters with local commute experts who will help:
Direct prospective vanpool riders to the resources of the Transportation Management Association that serves their area
Assist with qualification as a primary driver
Set a start date and create a time line for getting the new vanpool on the road
Determine the basic vanpool route, pick up and drop off times
Estimate monthly expenses
Advertise for and sign up riders
Establish general vanpool guidelines
Set policies and a schedule for payment
Meet with potential riders
Confirm the route, the start date and collect payments
To learn more about how to join or start a vanpool, visit CleanAirCampaign.com.
About The Clean Air Campaign
The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works with Georgia’s employers, commuters and schools to encourage actions that result in less traffic congestion and better air quality. To accomplish this goal, The Clean Air Campaign, along with its associate organizations, partners with more than 1,100 employers to create custom commute options programs; and annually helps thousands of commuters find commute alternatives that work for them, providing financial incentives to get them started. The Clean Air Campaign also protects public health by issuing Smog Alerts and empowers students, parents and teachers to play a positive role in reducing traffic and cleaning the air through a multi-faceted education program reaching elementary, middle and high schools.
Each day, these programs reduce 1.2 million miles of vehicle travel and keep 600 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe. For more information, call 1-877-CLEANAIR (1-877-253-2624) or visit CleanAirCampaign.com.