Rideshare Etiquette

Make your carpool or vanpool more pleasurable for everyone by agreeing on a few simple rules in advance.

• Decide if you are going to alternate driving, drive every day or ride every day. How many days a week will you share the ride to work? There are carpools operating every weekday, and some that run just once or twice a week.
  
  
• If it is not a shared driving arrangement, agree on a payment schedule.
  
  
• Set up a line of communication. If someone can't make it on a given day, let the driver know in advance the day before. Don't forget to give notice of vacation, personal or overtime plans.
  
  
• Where will the designated pick-up point be? Some carpools have door to door service, while others prefer to meet at a convenient church or grocery store parking lot.  Most vanpools find one or more pick-up locations. Establish a time schedule and pick-up points and respect everyone’s time by being prompt.
  
  
• Establish a rule for latecomers. Decide how long the carpool will wait for a passenger (3 - 5 minutes is usually recommended)..
  
  
• Avoid side trips on the way home.  Will there be any unscheduled stops allowed?
  
  
• Keep the car clean, well maintained and filled with enough gas for each trip.
  
  
• Decide on radio use, smoking policies and other similar concerns before you start carpooling.  Is eating/drinking allowed? Which station will you listen to on the radio? News channels are usually great ideas for updates on traffic, sports, stocks and weather.
  
  
• Have a back-up plan for emergency situations.  Who will be your alternate drivers in cases of illness or emergency before the morning commute?  If your driver must leave early because of a family emergency or stay late for unexpected overtime, what will the other riders do?  The North Natomas TMA offers a Emergency Ride Home that will provide you a taxi ride home for these type situations.