What are Vanpools?
Vanpools are quickly emerging as a popular form of smarter commuting.
The vanpooling phenomenon is continuing to gain momentum, especially in major cities with a dense concentration of commuters. As a solution to helping people skip the solo drive, vanpools are a relatively new entry in the smart commuting lexicon. Therefore, people often have questions about what they are and how they work. We’re here to help!
Vanpool essentials:
- Vanpools are made up of a group of commuters traveling from one or more origination points to a shared destination.
- Most vanpools include between about 7 and 15 people.
- Vanpools typically have one or two pickup locations, which frequently include designated transit stations or park-and-ride commuter lots.
- At the end of the work day, vanpools provide return transportation to the original pickup location(s). From there, commuters can then make their way home.
Vanpools can be used just about anywhere, but they tend to be most effective in areas where long-distance commutes are common and public transit options are limited. They’re also an excellent option for companies located in remote or outlying areas that are only accessible by privately operated vehicles. Providing vanpool service to and from such locations helps these businesses attract and retain employees while making the daily commute easier and more manageable for employees.
Commuters and employers enjoy many benefits by using vanpools:
- Cost savings and reduced wear and tear on privately owned vehicles.
- Reduced commuting time.
- The ability to talk, eat, read, work, or rest during the journey.
- Reduced on-site parking requirements and associated cost savings.
- Improved employee job satisfaction and productivity.
Use dynamic new technologies to make the best use of local smart commuting resources.
Employers typically administer vanpools themselves or contract with a service provider. Some have a high level of involvement, actively promoting vanpooling as a preferred commuting option. Meanwhile, others simply offer them as an alternative to interested employees. Regardless of how involved a given employer is in a particular vanpooling program, commuter management software like RideAmigos can provide convenient, effective, and easy-to-use management capabilities.
The RideAmigos transportation demand management platform offers extensive support for employers that offer vanpooling. Vanpool support works seamlessly alongside many other features that are helping transform the way we access and use urban transportation. In addition to integrating data from Commute with Enterprise and other providers, the RideAmigos CommuteHub includes tools to create and manage a new vanpool group, connect riders, track usage and stats, plan routes, and much more.
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