Carpooling FAQs
What is carpooling?
Carpooling is when two or more commuters ride together in a private vehicle at least three days per week and share the cost. Carpooling is the simplest and most common ridesharing arrangement.
How much money can I save by sharing the commute?
Quite a bit. Our Driving Cost Calculator can help you determine how much money you could save by carpooling, vanpooling or riding the bus instead of driving a single occupant vehicle. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average cost of owning and operating a medium-sized automobile, traveling an average of 15,000 miles per year is 55.2 cents per mile. For a 40-mile round-trip commute this comes to $22.08 per day, $463.68 per month and $5,564.16 per year, based on commuting 21 days per month. This figure is based on estimates provided by the AAA publication, “Your Driving Costs 2011.” AAA compiles its estimate by averaging fuel, routine maintenance, tires, insurance, license and registration, loan finance charges and depreciation costs for a medium size automobile that is driven 15,000 miles per year. Tolls and parking fees are additional and exclude loan payments. Fuel prices are based on a late 2007 national average gas price of $2.941 per gallon. AAA has conducted this annual analysis since 1950. That year, driving a car 10,000 miles annually cost 9 cents a mile, and gasoline sold for a mere 27 cents per gallon.How do I get into a carpool?
It's simple! All you have to do is register online , call 562-7665 or e-mail your request to Anchorage Share-A-Ride. Ridematching is free and confidential. You provide your home and work addresses, work hours and a contact phone number. Share-A-Ride will send you a matchlist of people interested in ridesharing who have similar commutes. It's up to you to contact the people on the list, work out driving arrangement and begin ridesharing. These carpooling tips can help in your ridesharing success.
Is my information private?
Yes. We respect your privacy and will not distribute your information without your permission, except in response to verified requests from law enforcement or emergency services.
Who can I contact about carpooling?
Anchorage Share-A-Ride
Jesse Ferman, Vanpool Coordinator
(907) 343-8497
FermanJL@muni.org
Sandy Clark, Vanpool Contract Administrator
(907) 343-8435
ClarkSK@muni.org
Paula Kangis, Share-A-Ride/Marketing Manager
(907) 343-8491
KangisPJ@muni.org
Can I carpool if I don't have a car?
Yes, you can contribute to the expenses of the driver without having a car, and everyone saves. This may not be possible in all cases, but you can work out the details after arranging to carpool with commuters on your matchlist.
I’m currently registered in the Share-A-Ride program, but I haven’t found a carpool partner. What do I do?
Call 562-7665 or e-mail Anchorage Share-A-Ride to verify your profile is up-to-date. Even the most minor changes may lead to a match.
I've asked nearly everyone in my office building if they'd like to carpool, but have had no luck. Can Share-A-Ride help?
Yes. We maintain a ridematching database that can help determine if you share a similar commute with someone nearby. You may update your information online, call Share-A-Ride at 562-7665 or e-mail your request and we will send you a new matchlist.
I'm in a carpool now, but will be changing job/work locations soon. What do I do?
You can update your information online, call Share-A-Ride at 562-7665 or e-mail us and we will run a new matchlist for you.
I drive 40 miles one way to work. How could I find anyone to carpool with me?
We maintain a database full of people from Sutton to Girdwood wanting to carpool. You can register your information online, call Share-A-Ride at 562-7665 or email us and we will run a matchlist for you. You may decide to meet someone at a central location and carpool from there, or vanpooling may be a better option for you. Review our list of vanpools to see if there is a van running that matches your needs.
How can I carpool when I have errands to run?
You could carpool three days a week and save your errands and appointments for the other days. Or be the carpool driver on the days you need to run errands and run your errands during lunch.
You would still save a lot of money, vehicle wear and tear and maintenance, plus help the environment. A carpool is two or more people (co-workers, friends, family members, etc.) sharing the ride to work.