Carpool & Ride Share

Carpool & Rideshare

person biking in front of fall trees

Sharing rides to campus is an effective way to cut down on travel expenses, especially as fuel and parking permits become more expensive. It is also a great way to meet colleagues in different departments, get to know your neighbors, reduce traffic, on campus parking demand, and your transportation emissions. There are likely many WWU employees in your neighborhood who commute to campus every day. Fill out our form and we will match you with other WWU employees in your area!

Carpool

Carpools are groups of 2+ people who share a ride to a common destination using a personal vehicle. Carpools are typically flexible, relying on internally agreed upon terms for pickup times, locations, and splitting driving burden, fuel and parking costs. Some groups decide to trade off driving, and others have a consistent driver and split fuel costs. Carpooling offers major cost savings by splitting fuel costs, cutting vehicle wear and tear, and splitting the cost f a WWU parking permit. Carpooling is ideal for groups of 2-5 people who commute from the same area and have similar work schedules. WWU offers carpool permits to groups of two or more people in preferred parking locations within lots 11G, 17G or a discounted rate in 12G. 

Rideshare (Vanpool)

Rideshare (formally known as Vanpool) utilized rented vehicles from the local transit agency such as WTA or Skagit Transit. Rideshares are more structured with formal agreements and monthly fares and are ideal for groups of 7-15 people who commute from outside Bellingham. WTA's program requires 7 people to form a group with an average of at least 5 riders per trip. WTA charges a flat fare per van based on which county you commute from. The fares include fuel, maintenance, and insurance and is the same regardless of how many riders are in your group (more people = cheaper per person). Check out WTA Rideshare program and Skagit Transit Rideshare program for more information. 

Ride Matching

WWU Transportation Services:

Fill out our short interest form using your WWU email. Transportation Services will use the information your provide to match you with other WWU employees who have also completed the form. There are likely many other employees in your neighborhood, so please fill out the form even if you are unsure.

State Facilitated Program:

Another option is to join RideshareOnline.com, a program managed by WSDOT. Once you crease an account, you will be able to input your start location, finish location, and commute times to search for matches. This option is open to people outside of WWU.

FAQs

If you can't join your carpool on a particular day, no problem. All WWU employees can still sigh up for a pay-by-day parking permit for when you need to drive alone and the free employee bus pass can also help you get home when your plans change.

If something unexpected comes up while at work, WTA and Smart Trips offer free Emergency Ride Home for all WTA pass holders or Whatcom Smart Trips members on days you arrive to work via carpool or Rideshare. Call 360-676-RIDE and a WTA customer service representative will book a taxi free of charge up to three times per calendar year.

Employee carpool assignments are available in lots 11G, 17G, and 12G; 12G. 

To qualify for a carpool parking permit, you must meet the following criteria and rules:

  • Have a carpool group of at least 2 people.
  • Arrive to campus with at least 2 people on every trip, if you are the carpool permit holder and you don't have anyone riding with you, you must park in 12G.
  • Designate one carpool member as the permit holder.
  • Register every car's license plate that will be commuting to campus as a carpool vehicle; please not that only one vehicle is allowed to park at a given time.
  • Ensure each member reads and signs an agreement to comply with the carpool policy.
  • The non-primary carpool permit holders may purchase pay-by-day permits (free to obtain, discounted daily charge to park).

Only valid carpools may park in carpool lots. On days when special circumstances prevent carpool members from riding together, the carpool permit holder may park alone and follow the appropriate procedures below:

  • Carpool members driving alone must park in parking lot 12G.
  • Employee carpool permits are honored in lot 12G with no call-in necessary.

Instances of parking alone will be monitored to ensure that the carpool system is not being abused.

Yes! We've decided to focus on faculty and staff because they tend to have a more regular schedule and live further from campus where a carpool is necessary; however, anyone with a WWU email may fill out the form.

Yes! There is an option on the form to indicate the days/times you would like to commute. 

Yes. Carpool permits allow for multiple vehicles to be registered under the same permit. All vehicles that will be used must be registered.

Yes. Parking permits can be returned for a pro-rated refund. Contact Transportation Services (transportation@wwu.edu or 650-2945) to start the process.

Carpool Safety

Our office will only match you with other WWU employees, however we still recommend you follow your instincts regarding safety and basic safety protocol.

  • Drivers: be fully rested and never operate a vehicle after consuming drugs or alcohol.
  • Meet the people you are considering traveling with in a public place, before agreeing to travel together.
  • Tell a friend or family member about your trip plans.
  • Carry a fully charged cell phone.
  • Exchange emergency contact information
  • Exchange driver's license and insurance information.
  • Ask for personal referenes.
  • Meet in a public and high traffic pick-up and drop-off location.