Organizing an Office Carpool

It's no surprise if your daily gasoline consumption is causing you worries. The average person spends over $2,000 annually just driving to work and the emissions from these trips cause untold damage to the environment. But what alternatives do you really have? Everybody's familiar with the pitfalls of public transport - late trains, broken down buses, and messing around with change for tickets when you should be composing yourself for a morning meeting. Besides, many neighborhoods just don't have the public transport systems set up to meet your needs effectively.

Well, what about carpooling? Oh, you've asked around and it isn't set up and operating at your work? Read on to find all you need to know about how to start your own carpool system at work.

Talk to Management
This is a critical step on several fronts. First, it could be that management is already considering a carpool system - there's no need to replicate a company effort that could be just around the corner. Next, you'll need to ask permission to set up a carpooling system with co-workers, since you'll inevitably be using some of your work time, especially during setup. You also may need to clear up things like the use of notice-board space and materials, such as stationery or webspace. Finally, you might get lucky and find that your employer is so happy to have you starting up a carpool that they'll offer you some kind of pay raise or bonus to show their appreciation!

Get Promotional
Not everyone at your workplace - including management - may be familiar with the benefits of carpooling. So before you wade on in, why not prepare a short list of the potential benefits to have ready for any ‘doubting Thomas'. Just a few of the benefits of carpooling include:

Great public relations for the company - who can tout the carpool program as part of their ‘green strategy'

The overall time saved by carpooling compared with public transport
The savings in staff time from improved staff punctuality
Increased morale and teamwork from staff getting to know each other better

You should also consider publishing news of your efforts through notice-boards and company email systems - apart from generating a buzz amongst future users of the system; it might also recruit you one or two people looking to help out.

Do Your Homework
Whether you're working alone or with some support, don't forget to do some research - especially online - to avoid reinventing the wheel. Spreadsheets, telephone and email trees can be handy for a carpool, but be sure to check existing resources online. Some countries and areas have free, government-supported sites for coordination of carpooling. In addition, many sites offer basic software for handling the logistics of a carpool. There's also the possibility of using social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace to start a carpool for a geographic area.

Find Your Successor!

OK, so you got permission, promoted well, found the right admin tools and implemented your new carpool system. Everybody's happier, saving money and getting to work more sustainably. Your last task is to find someone to replace you as the system's troubleshooter! Remember that sustainability is about humans as much as the environment - after making your contribution you're surely due to relax and enjoy getting to work!