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Vanpools are an element of the transit system that allow groups of people to share the ride similar to a carpool but on a larger scale with concurrant savings in fuel and vehicle operating costs.
Vehicles can be provided by individuals, individuals in cooperation with various public and private support programs, through a program operated by or on behalf of an element of government or a program operated by or on behalf of an employer.
The key concept is that people share the ride from a home location or near that home location (meeting at a common location or locations) and travel together to a common destination or work center.
A number of programs exist (within the United States) to help lower the cost of that shared ride to the end user. Among these are traditional funding available to public agencies and in partiocular public-private partenrships as well as Best Work Places for Commuters (Commuter Choice Programs) available as provided under US Code 26 ยง132 ( f ) Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit allowances.
These public transportation programs seek to reduce the number of cars on the road (with all the attendant environmental benefits).
Additional benefits include
- Speed: The van can use the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes because normally more than 2-3 people ride.
- Conversation.
- Fixed schedule (makes life more predictable).
- Riders often have significant reductions in the cost of gas (in some cases it is part of the program).
- Riders often can have significant reductions in the cost of personal auto insurance (insurance for the rideshare component is usually provided as part of the vanpool program).
In many cases an employer may elect to subsidize the cost of the vanpool and the vehicles maintenance. In some cases the vehicles are provided and maintained by the municipality; in others in partnership with or by a third-party provider.
One of the more successful programs in the USA is the King County Metro Vanpool Programin the Puget Sound area, specifically in King County, Washington.
Private firms exist that operates vanpools for individuals as well as in cooperation with employers and/or under contract in a number of areas in the US (as well as programs in Europe)
See also
"Vanpool"