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Remember:

When posting a ride, you are never obligated to take someone. If someone requests a ride from you, evaluate your level of comfort. Don't feel rude turning someone away. Trust your instincts.

Charge your cell phone before going. Inform a friend or family member of your ride plans. If there are delays or changes to your trip, let someone know.

Know Your Rideshare

  1. Look over their Facebook networks. Do they have Facebook friends? Do you have any friends in common?
  2. Look at pictures, wall posts, interests, and favorite books and music.
  3. Evaluate the safety of their vehicle. What kind of car do they drive? Will you feel safe?
  4. Do they have feedback from other users? Many won't because this is a new service. Good feedback is very helpful to the carpool community, so be sure to provide feedback after the ride.

Coordination

Know who and what car you are looking for. Call and/or exchange emails before the ride to coordinate:

  1. Pickup/drop-off locations and times
  2. The cost of the ride and payment method: if cash, have exact amount ready and give to the driver first thing when you are in the vehicle. If you are paying with Paypal, make sure to pay ahead of time. If you are splitting the gas cost, make sure to have cash or credit on you.
  3. Amount of luggage and space
  4. Other passengers
  5. Music and Noise - Do your riders like to talk, prefer silence, sing along to songs? Do they shave, put on makeup, eat breakfast? Do they text, talk on their phone, or work on their laptop? Most importantly, how will rider behaviors affect the driver?

Addtional Carpooling Considerations

Backup Plans
Do you work on the same schedule? Do you or they ever work late? Who is responsible when schedules change? What is your backup plan for when you are stuck without a car?

Honesty
Be honest about what you require and what you can offer. If you tend to run late, don't try to hide it. Admit it and find someone who is willing to accommodate your style.

Driving Responsibility and Costs
Does everyone take turns driving? Some cars may use more gas than others. Do you split costs equally or do drivers pay for their own gas? If a driver gets a ticket does everyone help pay for it? What happens when a driver is sick or cannot drive on his or her day?

Safety
How fast, sober, or distracted is your driver? Use seatbelts. Is car maintenance periodic?

Personality
Some riders you might want to avoid no matter what include anyone with suspected abuse problems, road rage candidates, backseat drivers, and the hopelessly unreliable. Trust your instincts and decline to ride with anyone who gives you a bad feeling.

Adapted from Zimride Best Practices from Logan Green, August 15, 2008 and Zimride Tips from DC Carpool and Slug Lane Veteran by Carol Bengle Gilbert, July 27, 2008, www.associatedcontent.com.