Since joining the SWR team in January of this year, I have been looking for a more sustainable way to get to work every day. From my place, transit is not an option so I have been thinking that carpooling is the solution to my issue. It has been an exciting adventure to work this through. Here are some of my learnings from this process!
- It takes a village – for me, with my strange schedule and varied work demands, having one car pool partner is not really an option. Instead what I have found is that having a range of different carpool partners that are all flexible is the ticket. That way we go together when we can, and not when it does not work.
- It is a giving proposition – in order to make it work, there has to be some give in the process. Maybe you have to go a little out of your way to pick up or drop off. Maybe transit is the option to get to the carpool or the end of the destination. But it is possible.
- You meet lots of great people – I have now carpooled with a few different people, and it is always interesting to chat with them. How else would we have met?
- Get committed – things change. People leave jobs. Schedules flex. Vacations come up. All these things can throw your carpool for a loop, but if you are committed to a sustainable commute, it is possible.
- There are savings to be had – whether it is savings for the environment, cost savings, or wear and tear on the vehicle, sharing a ride is a big way to make savings.
If you have a longer commute, and transit is not an option, I encourage you to look at carpooling. Tell your family and friends that you are looking for a commuting partner or two. Put it on social media.
And if you are in Waterloo Region, check out gotravelwise.ca. You can register your commute, see possible matches and contact them about travelling together. So awesome. And you never know who you will meet!
– Tova