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Ridesharing

Two males ridesharing on their way to work.
Department of Transportation

Ridesharing

Ridesharing is a great option if you live more than 20 miles from work. It can reduce travel costs such as fuel, parking, maintenance, and repair bills, as well as reduce stress and pollution. What if you need an emergency ride home from work? Many rideshare programs offer a guaranteed ride home for eligible commuters. 

Local rideshare offices help commuters find vacancies in existing carpools/vanpools or match people who are interested in forming a new carpool/vanpool.

MichiVan commuter vanpools

MichiVan, sponsored by MDOT and operated by Enterprise Rideshare, supplies fully insured passenger vans to commuter groups.

Under this program:

  • Five to 15 commuters share a van along an established route.
  • Riders pay a monthly fee as low as $55 per month (based on daily round trip/monthly commute mileage and the size of van).
  • The MichiVan operator (Commute with Enterprise) provides the vehicle and pays for the maintenance/repairs, insurance, titling, and licensing.
  • A vanpool group usually meets at a centralized location, such as a store or carpool lot.
  • A free ride home for unexpected emergencies (program rules and guidelines apply).

The vanpool program is open to individuals of the public. The MichiVan operator also helps employers develop vanpools and ridesharing programs.

Guaranteed Ride Home

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program is a free program that offers reimbursement for taxi fare or car rental should an emergency or unexpected overtime cause you to miss your carpool or vanpool ride. 

GRH may be used for personal or family emergencies, personal or family illness, unscheduled overtime (with supervisor's verification), or unexpected early departure of rideshare partner.

GRH may not be used for personal/pre-scheduled appointments (such as doctor visits), weather emergencies or unexpected acts of nature, pre-arranged overtime, business-related travel, or any rides to work.

To be eligible, you must register with your local rideshare office.

Carpooling benefits and tips

  • Save money, and reduce wear on your personal vehicle.
  • Reduce stress by relaxing, rather than driving through traffic. 
  • Flexibility to carpool every day or just a few times a week.
  • Environmentally-friendly and sustainable way to travel.
  • Live a longer, healthier life by enjoying cleaner air.
  • Establish driving and/or payment schedules.
  • Establish pick-up points and times. Be prompt.
  • Establish rules and policies, such as radio or food/beverage use.
  • Communicate and have a back-up plan for emergency situations.
  • Keep the car clean, well maintained, and filled with gas for each trip.