Posted on 07/01/2008 6:01:31 PM PDT by doug from upland
Overview What is a Vanpool?
With gas prices rising, traffic congestion increasing, and energy resources dwindling, smart long-distance commuters are seizing the opportunity to turn an often costly and frustrating daily commute into a more pleasant experience. It’s called vanpooling.
Vanpools are similar to carpools, except they generally involve more people. A vanpool is a group of 5 to 15 people who regularly travel together to work 30 miles or more (roundtrip) in a comfortable van. Typically, riders pay a monthly fare and maintenance fee, while drivers ride at a discounted rate in exchange for driving and maintaining the van.
Vanpoolers can shave an average of 20 minutes off of their commute time by using carpool lanes, and lower the stress and expense of driving alone. And now, with the Metro Vanpool Program, new and existing vanpools will save even more money. Get in. Join the Metro Vanpool Program.
Metro Launches New Vanpool Program (August 2007)
Metro Vanpool Program Milestone (April, 2008)
My former employer in San Antonio, Texas, ran about a hundred vanpools for employees. Users paid a monthly fee based on their distance from the office. Vans ran as far as Austin, 60 miles away.
Unfortunately, this is not practical for jobs with unpredictable hours.
When I go to work, I have no idea if I’m coming home at 5 PM or 10 PM.
When I go to work, I have no idea if I’m coming home at 5 PM or 10 PM.
But that's, what, one percent of jobs? I slug to work (www.slug-lines.com) and I can get a ride until 6 pm, then there's one last bus at 6:30, and my employer's paid for a cab more than once.
Matt Foley: [ runs up the stairs, bouncing back and forth as he talks ] Alright, how's everybody? Good! Good! Good! Now, as your father probably told you, my name is Matt Foley, and I am a Motivational Speaker! Now, let's get started by me giving you a little bit of a scenario of what my life is all about! First off, I am 35 years old.. I am divorced.. and I live in a van down by the river! Now, you kids are probably saying to yourself, "Now, I'm gonna go out, and I'm gonna get the world by the tail, and wrap it around and put it in my pocket!!" Well, I'm here to tell you that you're probably gonna find out, as you go out there, that you're not gonna amount to Jack Squat!!" You're gonna end up eating a steady diet of government cheese, and living in a van down by the river! Now, young man, what do you want to do with your life?
Matt Foley: Dad, I wish you could just shut your big yapper! [ stumbles back across the room ] Now, I wonder.. Brian, from what I've heard, you're using your paper, not for writing, but for rolling doobies!! You're gonna be doing a lot of doobie-rolling when you're living in a van down by the river!
Matt Foley: Well, you'll have plenty of time to live in a van down by the river when you're.. [ tries to be clever ] ..living in a van down by the river!
Matt Foley: I don't give a rat's behind, 'cause I'm moving in! I'm sick and tired of living in a van down by the river!
It may be 1% to you, but 100% of the jobs I have had involved irregular hours.
How about a vanpool that could drop me off at clients’ homes and businesses, then come and pick me up when I’m ready and take me to my next appointment.
Wait, it’s called my personal car.
I’ve always tried to live close to work, or work close to my home. The last time I had to hunt for a job, I got out my map and penciled a circle 20 miles in diameter, with the center being my house. I looked for jobs only within that circle. Managed to get one only a few blocks away. The only time I’ve commuted further than I could ride a bike was when I worked out in the boonies, and there was no other traffic on the forest service road I took.
I've been in or operated a vanpool since 1990 and I've been the primary driver since 1992. My current route is about 35 miles each way. I pick up two ladies at their doors within two miles of my home. There are nine members at $25.00 per month. The primary driver pays nothing and I haven't paid for fuel [to get to work] since 1992.
Our work has several other vanpools and one does come from San Antonio. They pay a little over $100.00 per month, but being civil service, they can get vouchers up to $100.00 for using mass transportation.
The seem happy.
Would he let you take kegs?
“I’ve been in or operated a vanpool since 1990 and I’ve been the primary driver since 1992”
Is it easy to identify the passenger vector when the flu bug hits everyone in the van?
Actually, we've been lucky about that and seldom have a bug that hits everyone or even most. We had a stomach bug that got about half the van sick, but the others were OK. The passengers have been good about staying at home when they get the first sign of a sickness.
My old van pool used to circle around past the liquor store on Fridays instead of cutting through the alley - the driver would doublepark while the shotgun ran in and filled everyone’s drink orders. Beer is a BAD IDEA if your commute is 60 miles. Stick to wine coolers.
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