Carpooling
Carpooling allows you to reduce personal costs such as fuel and car maintenance and it also promotes a healthier environment for the community.
Carpoolers will create convenient schedules with other carpoolers by e-mail and/or phone. You are certainly not required to carpool everyday of the week.
All SNHU carpool members must have a valid SNHU e-mail address to access the groups information and to enroll in the service. A confirmation code will be sent to your SNHU e-mail address for verification. You will need to enter this code on the confirmation page to complete your registration.
You will be asked to enter a location near where you live or where you wish to meet people in order to carpool to work. Next, you will select your destination location from a list of SNHU campus locations.
When initiating your account, you are only required to enter the name of the city in which you want to meet to carpool. You and other commuters will receive more accurate feedback regarding the mileage and proximity of your locations if you enter the street address of your home. How much information you provide is entirely up to you. The SNHU Carpool World group is limited only to SNHU employees.
You are not required to list your phone numbers. If you prefer, you can simply communicate with work e-mails and/or SNHU phone extensions.
Here are a few thoughts to help make your car pool experience successful:
Cost sharing $$$Draw up a schedule for driving responsibilities. If all members of your carpool alternate driving, decide if you want to alternate on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis or decide how you will split the costs before you start carpooling. The big one is usually fuel which you can decide based on the actual trip distance shared. Toll costs are also good to split. If you do not drive, consider the wear and tear on the driver’s car too.
Rules of the game
Decide on some basic rules: smoking, eating, loud music, radio station, talking in the car – all these are details, which, if sorted out well beforehand, make carpooling enjoyable.
Waiting time
This is the big one. Decide on a waiting time and how many calls you are going to make: five minutes and two calls are usually a good starting point. Share your cell phone numbers since weather conditions, traffic conditions and car trouble are all factors that could affect driving time.
Backup strategy
Have a backup plan. Establish a chain of communication. If a driver is ill or has car trouble, an alternate driver should be notified to ensure that the other members of the carpool will have a ride. If a member is ill or will not be working, the driver must be contacted as soon as possible. Obviously, planned time off (vacation, etc) means alternative arrangements may be needed.
More etiquette
Simple strategy like big and tall riders in the front can make the ride comfortable for all. If you are driving, tidy up your car. Don’t pick up errands on your way without consulting others - it is usually best to carpool straight to and from the destination. Respect your fellow carpoolers’ wishes, especially in the morning when some people like a time of quiet.
Insurance/ Driving
While NH doesn’t require automobile insurance it is certainly prudent for all drivers to protect themselves and their passengers with liability insurance. Please contact your insurance company about any other carpool considerations. Drive carefully and keep the vehicle in good repair. This includes keeping the vehicle clean and safe. In addition, there is no excuse for excessive speed, use of alcohol, or reckless maneuvers.
Give carpooling a trial run
Many commuters start carpooling on a trial basis — for a month or two. You can always add more days and more carpoolers in the future once a routine has been established. Don't worry about getting the details perfect right away.
If you are reading this, chances are you already have good reasons to carpool. We’ll list the top reasons to strengthen your resolve.
The obvious
- Save on gas
- Save the environment and reduce your carbon footprint
The not so obvious
- Save your energy
Driving is a complex activity that requires good reflexes, split-second decision making and an alert mind. Driving can also make you tired. Ride a few days instead of driving and feel the difference.
- Have better control of your work schedule
On a daily basis your work can control your schedule. Carpooling is a commitment that may help you stay on top of your work schedule.
- Reduce traffic congestion if more people carpool
This is a long-term benefit that would be more visible if a large number of people start carpooling. Carpooling can reduce road congestion.
- Reduce oil dependency
Oil is a precious and finite resource.
- Its fun
Commuting alone can be boring. Same old “highway traffic advisory” and “eye-in-the-sky” reports to watch traffic may become routine, habitual and even addictive. Take a break from these and enter the carpooling world which forces you to relax and be more patient by virtue of traveling with other people.