Carpooling FAQ

1. What is carpooling?
2. How do I find someone to carpool with?
3. A co-worker and I have agreed to carpool. Now what do we do?
4. My commute already takes long enough—won’t carpooling just make it longer?
5. What if I can’t carpool every day?
6. How many people should be in the carpool?
7. I don’t have a car—can I still carpool?
8. Why would anyone carpool?
9. Carpool Lane Rules Of The Road

1.What is carpooling?

It’s two or more people sharing the ride, usually taking turns driving their own vehicles.

2. How do I find someone to carpool with?

You may want to put out the word to co-workers, neighbors and friends to see if anyone you know would like to share the ride.

3. A co-worker and I have agreed to carpool. Now what do we do?

Before starting on any carpooling arrangement, it’s a good idea to meet over coffee or lunch to iron out details. Some of the ground you should cover:

• Who drives, and when
• How often you’ll carpool
• Arrangements for pick-ups and drop-offs
• Duties of the driver, such as filling up the gas tank before picking up riders
• Whether smoking is allowed
• Any other questions or concerns you may have
• Will you add additional riders

Consider establishing a trial period of a week or two to give determine if you’re suited to carpool together, if adjustments need to be made, or if you need to find a different carpool partner.

4. My commute already takes long enough—won’t carpooling just make it longer?

Quite the opposite; teaming up with someone else gives you access to timesaving carpool lanes. On average, Southland commuters using carpool lanes shave 36 minutes a day from their drive...a full third of their total commute time. That more than makes up for the few minutes it might take to meet with your fellow passengers. The farther you commute, the more time you’ll save.

5. What if I can’t carpool every day?

Some people like the regularity and cost-savings of carpooling on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to go. You can set up a carpool to operate any way that works for you and your carpool partner(s). Perhaps you’ll carpool Monday through Thursday and leave Fridays open. Even setting up a once-or-twice-a-week carpool is better than driving alone all the time.

6. How many people should be in the carpool?

The more people in your carpool, the less you’ll pay for gas and the less often you’ll have to drive. It also takes a bit more coordination making sure everyone arrives and is ready to go. People with consistent schedules do very well with three- or four-person pools. If you need more flexibility, a carpool with one other person may be more your speed.

7. I don’t have a car—can I still carpool?

While the typical carpool involves people with their own vehicles taking turns driving, you may be able to set up an arrangement in which someone else does all the driving while you pitch in for gas and other expenses.

8. Why would anyone carpool?

Saving money on gas...reducing auto wear and tear...access to carpool lanes...qualifying for perks at work like preferential parking and rideshare bonuses...less driving stress...more time to get things done...A better question is, why would anyone drive alone?

Carpool Lane Map

9. Carpool Lane Rules Of The Road

Violating the rules of carpool lanes can bring a hefty $341 fine, so it’s wise to know the standard policies:

1. Carpool lanes in Southern California require two or more people per vehicle (with a few exceptions, listed below).
2. Only enter and exit a carpool lane at areas designated with signs and a broken double yellow or white line. It’s against the law to cross the double yellow lines of a carpool lane—you can be ticketed.
3. Yes, children count as carpool partners.
4. Motorcyclists can ride alone in carpool lanes.
5. Zero-emission and some hybrid vehicles don’t need to meet minimum passenger requirements; however, proper identification in the form of a sticker from the DMV is required.
6. Always check posted signs. Southland carpool lanes require at least two people in a car, except the El Monte Busway, which requires three during peak hours (6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.).
7. Passenger requirements are in effect for Southern California’s carpool lanes 24 hours a day. The exception: Route 14, which is open to solo drivers in off-peak hours.

Express Lanes

Metro, Caltrans, and other mobility partners are working together to develop a package of solutions that will increase traffic flow and provide better travel options on I-10 and I-110 in Los Angeles County.

The Project Goal is to improve mobility and provide congestion relief on I-10 and I-110 corridors through the introduction of congestion pricing by converting High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, improvement of transit service and other alternatives to driving, improvements to transit facilities, and the implementation of an intelligent parking management system in downtown Los Angeles. The ExpressLanes are a pilot project that will test innovations to improve existing transportation systems.

The ExpressLanes one-year demonstration project is unique because it offers improved transportation options and the new choice to pay to travel in a carpool lane. General-purpose lanes are not tolled. The aim of the program is to foster incentives for sustainable change that creates time savings, cost savings, reduces pollution, and effectively manages our current roadway network – basic essential elements of a green corridor.

ExpressLanes features include:

• Conversion of the I-10 El Monte Busway HOV lanes (I-605 to Alameda St.) to HOT lanes
• Conversion of the I-110 Harbor Transit way HOV lanes (Artesia Transit Center to Adams Blvd.) to HOT lanes
• 57 new clean expansion buses and operating subsidy for the demo period
• El Monte Transit Center Expansion
• New Transit Station at Patsaouras Plaza
• Harbor Transit way Park & Ride Upgrades
• Metrolink Pomona Station Expansion
• Transit Signal Priority Expanded in Downtown LA
• 100 New Metro Vanpools
• New expansion bicycle lockers at the Artesia Transit Center & El Monte Transit Center
• ExpressPark
• New Bus Maintenance Facility in Downtown LA
• Budget: $290 million
• Start of Construction: 2011

Please visit the ExpressLanes page for more information.

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