COMMUTE OPTIONS
Carpooling
For many Thurston County residents, carpooling is the most viable mode. It can be as simple and informal as talking to a neighbor or coworker about sharing the ride now and then. For a more formal arrangement Intercity Transit can help you find a carpool partner, or for an even broader network, consider www.rideshareonline.com/.
Many worksites offer free or discounted carpool parking, ask your employer.
Resources:
The CTR Guidelines defines a carpool as a motor vehicle "occupied by two to six people traveling together for their commute trip that results in the reduction of a minimum of one motor vehicle commute trip".
Sharing the Cost
Try this Carpool Reimbursement Formula for figuring out how to share the costs of carpooling. Average miles per gallon, Paula's car = ______
Average miles per gallon, Brenda's car = ______
Average miles per gallon of both cars = _______ (A)
Round trip miles for the commute = _________ (B)
If the average miles per gallon are _____(A), and the roundtrip miles are _____(B), then it takes _____ (C) gallons to travel the roundtrip commute (divide B by A)
Then take the cost of a gallon of gas $ and multiply it by the number of gallons of gas it takes to travel the roundtrip miles (C) = _______. This is the cost to make the round trip (D).
Divide the cost to make the round trip _____ (D) by 2 = ______. This is the amount the passenger should pay the driver each day they carpool.
If you drive equal number of days, it's a wash! Otherwise, reimburse the other driver for the number of days above and beyond the number of days you drove.