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November 2008
In this issue:
Lending a Helping Hand
Think back to when you first heard about vanpooling. Were you ready to join a vanpool right away? If not, what convinced you to give it a try? What did you need to know before you joined?
From left to right: Noy Khammy (Renton vanpool), Thu Nguyen, Thanna Leng,
Yukeng Kheang, Chujit Bay, Naomi Kapplehoff, Loan Trinh, and Bob Baldwin
Naomi Kapplehoff, a shipper at Physio-Control in Redmond, signed on to a forming vanpool this spring. The group started by carpooling from Mountlake Terrace, ironing out their route while they applied to the King County Metro VanPool program. When they started vanpooling in June, coworkers from Renton asked Naomi about the benefits and startup process. She quickly became a resource at Physio-Control.
Some had considered vanpooling, but needed a first-hand account before they took the plunge. "They asked why I wanted to vanpool. What do I like? Does the fare cover insurance?" Her answers convinced some to sign on.
Others were interested, but didn't have time to seek out information. "A lot are tied to one spot on the manufacturing floor. Everyone has computer access and knows how to find RideshareOnline.com, but they don't have time." Naomi's job gives her more mobility, so she could look up answers in the online Vanpool Starter Kit, explain the Guaranteed Ride Home benefit, print the occasional participation form, and help people connect with ETC Soroya Cottrell.
Naomi recruited more riders for her own Mountlake Terrace group and then helped form two Renton vanpools. She fielded questions, helped post 'Riders Wanted' flyers, and even offered to lend a hand with bookkeeping.
Metro knows from surveys that many vanpoolers first learn about the program and their groups from other vanpoolers. Even though information is available on worksite bulletin boards and the web, testimonials from a trusted friend or colleague make a big impact.
So what does Naomi like about vanpooling? She cut her gasoline spending by 75% since she joined. "I don't have to use my car during the week," she notes. Plus, the HOV lane gets her home faster. "I cut my commute from 45 minutes to 30."
A Backup Driver, Naomi likes to relax in the van after work. "If I had a stressful day, I don't have to drive home….Our Primary Driver loves to drive, even in the snow." Naomi also likes the diversity of her group. She estimates at least 40 countries are represented at Physio-Control, and enjoys hearing riders chat in other languages during the drive. Many riders are good friends but don't work in the same area. They can catch up with each other or catch a snooze on the van.
Her advice to other groups: have at least two Backup Drivers, so a driver will always be available during vacation or holiday times.
Her assessment of vanpooling: "I love it. I don't think I'd ever go back to the other way."
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Going Electric
King County Metro vanpooler Jason Henderson became interested in electric cars after seeing the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" 2 years ago. This Oscar-winning documentary lays out the facts of global warming and carries the message from Al Gore to act "boldly, quickly and wisely" before it's too late to act at all.
Jason was already reducing his carbon footprint by commuting in a vanpool from Tacoma to Microsoft in Redmond since 2000. But after seeing the movie, he decided he could do more. He didn't realize, until he started researching electric vehicles 2 years ago, that there was not anything all-electric in the marketplace that met his commute requirements: travel up to 60 miles per hour and stay charged for up to 30 miles.
After combing the Internet without significant results, he discovered the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association [external link]. Through this organization he met Dave Cloud in Woodinville, WA who specializes in converting gas-powered cars to all-electric.
The next task for Jason was finding the type of car that would lend itself to an electric conversion. He chose a 2002 General Motors Saturn because it was a lighter vehicle that would perform better when the gas engine was replaced with 8-volt batteries. The total cost for the conversion was $12,000 and took about 3 months to complete.
Jason has been driving the Saturn a distance of 30 round trip miles from his home to where he meets his vanpool in Federal Way and back for the last year and a half. He estimates it has cost him $252 in electricity to drive 9,000 miles during this time.
Jason was challenged to find a place to recharge his car where he met his vanpool, at the Federal Way Park and Ride lot. Because of the lack of public plug-in spaces, he was forced to travel the entire 30 miles without a recharge, which put stress on the batteries causing them to wear out sooner and reducing the distance he could travel between charges. Fortunately, when this happened he was able to plug in at a friend's house before he boarded his vanpool, which takes him the 35 miles to his office at Microsoft.
Jason said he would like to see more spots for electric car plug-ins in the future, since standard 110-volt power outlets are so readily available. He looks to programs such as the one King County just announced called Park and Plug, currently available at two park and ride lots.
For more information about the Park and Plug, visit www.rideshareonline.com/commuters/electric.html or call 206-625-4500.
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Record Numbers for a Record Year!
The last months of the year tend to be the time when organizations can take a deep breath, reflect on the events of the year, and try to project obstacles and goals for the next year. For Rideshare Operations, we're lucky if we can afford the time for a couple of quick, shallow breaths.
As the economy continues to fluctuate and employees in the Puget Sound look for ways to save money on their commutes, Rideshare Operations has answered the call by providing vanpools to a record number of new groups in 2008.
Through October 2008, Rideshare Operations has started an average of 25 new groups each month. To place that in context, historically over the past 10 years, we have started an average of 11 new vanpool groups each month.
And with new groups come new drivers and bookkeepers - over 1,300 so far this year! To help keep up with demand, Rideshare Operations has increased the number of Vanpool Orientation Classes by 30% over 2007 and we still have two months left.
And demand is not showing any signs of letting up. There are an additional 63 new vanpool groups scheduled to attend the Vanpool Orientation Class before the end of the year. At this rate, Rideshare Operations will have started over 300 new vanpool groups in 2008 - a 75% increase over 2007!
This remarkable response from commuters exhausted Metro's award budget for Fill It Up, Again! earlier than expected, and is why the program closed at the end of September. Between January 1st and September 30th, 4,371 awards went out to new and existing commuters in King County Metro commuter vans, which is about 40% more rewards than we distributed during the last promotion.
Rideshare Operations extends a warm welcome to all of our new vanpool and vanshare participants and would like to thank all of you for being patient with us and helping make 2008 a record breaking year.
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Driving Tips
Don't wait until you see snow to prepare for winter
We've had a mellow fall so far, but don't let that catch you off guard. If history is any indicator, nasty weather is likely just around the corner. Now is a great time to get ready. WSDOT and the Washington State Patrol advise drivers to plan now for winter driving.
"When you aren't prepared for winter driving conditions and cause a collision, your costs can add up very quickly," said Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. "Make sure you carry chains, don't use cruise control, and most importantly, on ice and snow, take it slow."
For more information on WSP chain requirements, WSDOT's winter programs, a list of frequently asked questions, car emergency kits and ways to prepare your vehicle for winter, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/ [external link]. At www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/ [external link], drivers can look at weather forecasts and road temperatures throughout the state.
Odometer Readings at the Pump
"I'm in a hurry to get gas and forgot to look at the odometer display to get the actual number to enter at the gas pump. It doesn't really make much difference anyway. I'll just guess, that's good enough, right?" WRONG!
Accurate odometer readings are necessary, as our sophisticated forecasting software recalculates on a daily basis the due dates for your van's maintenance schedule. An incorrect reading, if too low, could cause your van to not be serviced in a timely manner, preventing it from achieving its optimum performance. And, an incorrect odometer reading that is too high can cause your Maintenance Representative to ask you to bring your van in more often than is necessary, which also increases the program's costs. In addition, it could cause future correct readings to be rejected if they are less than the earlier incorrect reading. Please take that extra second to enter accurate meter readings. This will allow our preventative maintenance schedule - and your commuter van - to go more smoothly.
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Chinook Book - Free Ride Vanpool Coupons
Metro Rideshare has expanded its Ticket to Ride program with coupons, now available through the Chinook Book for 3 free rides in a Metro vanpool. The use of the Chinook Book coupon is modeled after the Ticket to Ride program that many of you have used to let others ride in your van to try it out.
Here is how it works.
- Seattle Chinook coupon books, which specialize in coupons for environmentally friendly businesses that are environmentally friendly, are now available for sale for $20.
- People who buy the book will find 3 free ride tickets good until November 30, 2009 on a Metro vanpool in the transportation section.
- Those interested in trying a vanpool are instructed to go to RideshareOnline.com or call 206-625-4500 to find a vanpool with a similar commute to theirs.
- If there is a vanpool available, they are instructed to contact the driver or group contact to see if there are seats available to try out the vanpool, very much like Ticket to Ride.
- If your group is able to accommodate a coupon holder, Metro requests that you collect the ticket and return it with your monthly rider report.
To learn more about the Chinook coupon book, visit www.ecometro.com [external link]. To use Ticket to Ride, visit Metro Online to see how it works and to download and print the tickets.
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