Vanpooling is a highly economical way to travel if your commute is 20 miles or more. To vanpool, people from the same neighborhood or community ride together in a 15-person van. You’re picked up either at your home or a park and ride lot. Although most vanpoolers are going to and from one workplace, vans can also serve nearby worksites, schools and colleges.

In exchange for a free commute, one person is responsible for organizing and driving the van. The other members of the vanpool usually don’t drive, but share the total cost of operating the vanpool. The result: everyone saves money.

For employees:

• It saves money over driving alone
• When you don’t drive, you can relax during your commute.
• Vans are spacious, air-conditioned and comfortable.
• Vanpooling reduces pollutants: each passenger represents one less car in traffic.

For employers:

• Vanpools help employers bring employees to work.
• Vanpools provide a cost-effective, easily monitored way to use transportation subsidies.
• Vanpools reduce the need for additional parking.
• Employer-organized vanpools are a valued employee benefit. They improve employee morale and employee relations.
• Shared rides increase productivity. They also reduce absenteeism and tardiness.

You can join an existing vanpool or organize a new one by contacting San Benito County Rideshare at (831) 637-POOL or by sending us an email. We will provide you with everything you need to get started, including an information packet about the vanpool program, terms and obligations and an application to see if you qualify. Here is a list of our existing vanpools:

• Seaside, CA (approximately 8am to 5pm): at seating capacity
• Monterey, CA (approximately 8am to 5pm): limited seating available
• Santa Clara, CA (approximately 6:30am to 4pm): at seating capacity