Navigating congested Los Angeles freeways is enough to drive anyone over the edge, no pun intended. So for a city that is so heavily reliant on cars, high gas prices are more or less like a death sentence. With the average regular grade Los Angeles gas price being $4.56 a gallon this week (a 0.021 decrease from last week), L.A. is being forced to change its ways, something it rarely does, even far beyond the limits of where cars are concerned. For proof of this, read this interesting account of BBC New’s correspondent David Willis’ first experience on the Los Angeles Metro, after 10 years of living in the city. “Like most people here,” he says. “I would rather stick pins in my eyeballs than hop on a bus or a train. That is not because I am a snob, but because America’s second largest city is a sprawl. Fifty-two suburbs in search of a city, so the old saying goes.”
That’s why the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority created the Metro VanPool Program in May 2007. Vanpools are just like carpools, except with more people, usually 5 to 15 who travel to work 30 miles or more in a van. The Metro joined forced with vanpool leasing agencies, employee transportation groups and KCET’s enthusiastic and boisterous Huell Howser to announce the 5-year, $19 million Metro Vanpool Program.
Vanpoolers can reduce their commute by 20 minutes using carpool lanes and also lower stress, says Metro. Seventy percent of commute trips on the region’s roadways are made by solo drivers, they said.
At this point, you probably can’t contain yourself with excitement and would like to know how you can join in and how much it will cost. Control yourselves, people. Here are the details. To get started, you need at least five people who are just as sick of Los Angeles traffic as you are. This should not be hard to find. If you have an existing vanpool, you need to check that you have a valid vanpool leasing agency agreement to be eligible to participate in the program. If you qualify, you will receive an ongoing subsidy of up to $400 per month. Details on the requirements can be found in the Metro Vanpool Program Participation Guidelines. Next you can get started on applying.
Vanpools must begin with at least 70 percent of vehicle seats occupied and open seats must be advertised as available and open to the public. They’re usually best for people who have to travel more than 15 miles to work. You can also search for existing vanpools on the Metro website. If you’d like to start one from scratch, you don’t necessarily have to be the driver, but you probably have to find someone who is willing to drive, and that might be a bit difficult.
The actual van must be leased through partner vanpool leasing agencies. These agencies also offer assistance for recruiting riders and setting fares and policies. If your van
As far as costs, Metro estimates that the average monthly fare for a Metro VanPool Program rider with a 70-mile round trip commute is about $140 per month. I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but it certainly sounds a lot cheaper than filling your tank with gas every week. The cost covers the van lease, insurance and maintenance of the van.
There are a couple drawbacks however. Because of the number of people involved, the vanpool does not pick you up at home. Usually, riders agree to meet at Park and Ride lots or agreed-upon locations along the way. If you’re sick or going on vacation, your monthly fare reserves your seat whether you use it or not. However, if you’re going to be gone for a long time, many vanpools allow you to ’sublet’ your seat to another rider. And what if you get sick and need to get home? Metro says that most leasing agencies and many employers offer a Guaranteed Ride Home program in the event of an emergency.
And for those that think the vanpool is going to be one big, fun road trip, most vanpools do establish rules, including ones that cover smoking, the radio, tardiness and vanpool etiquette.
The project recently hit a milestone this last April, with more than 600 Metro public vanpools operating throughout Los Angeles County. If you’re thinking about starting a vanpool, Metro has recently given a bit more incentive to get the ball rolling. From August 1 to September 30, 2008, groups of five to 14 commuters that start their own vanpool with a Metro Partner Leasing Agent and are enrolled in the Metro Vanpool Program will earn a $300 gas allowance.
For all the details on the Metro Vanpool Program, vist the Vanpool section of Metro’s website or call 1.800.COMMUTE
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2 responses so far ↓
1 Frank DelCampa // Jul 10, 2008 at 10:47 am
Vanpooling is the most cost effective mode of public transportation. Did you know that a 10% tax credit for companies who provide their employees with vanpool programs would be three times more cost effective at conserving fuel and reducing emissions as the current tax credit for hybrids; and each vanpool takes roughly 11 cars off the road……
2 Liana Aghajanian // Jul 10, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Wow, I didn’t know that Frank. I think that’s more than enough incentive to start vanpooling, the more cars of Los Angeles roads, the better, is what I always say!
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