Starting a carpool at work sounds like a great idea—until you’re standing by the coffee machine, wondering how to ask your coworker to ride with you without making it weird.
We get it. Sharing a commute can be a great way to save money, reduce stress, and enjoy a little company on the way to work. But bringing it up can feel tricky if you’re not sure how to start the conversation.
The good news is that you don’t need a formal plan or a big push from HR to create a carpool culture. With a few simple steps, you can introduce the idea naturally and make it easy for others to get on board.
Here are five practical ways to help get things rolling:
Instead of directly asking someone to carpool, try casually mentioning something about your own commute.
You might say something like: “I’ve been thinking about carpooling a couple of days a week to save on gas. I didn’t realize how many people here live near [your area].”
This keeps the tone light and non-pressuring. If others are interested, they’ll likely respond or bring it up again later.
Leverage the places where casual conversations already happen. That could be a company bulletin board, an internal email thread, a Slack channel, or even a breakroom poster.
Try something like: “Is anyone commuting from the Gloucester/Mathews area and interested in occasional carpooling? Just testing the waters to see who’s out there.”
By keeping it open and informal, you create space for others to consider the idea without feeling cornered.
Not everyone wants to commit to carpooling every single day—and that’s okay. It helps to present the idea as flexible and based on mutual convenience.
You might say: “I was thinking of carpooling once or twice a week, maybe just on the days we have early meetings.”
This shows that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Starting small often makes people more comfortable giving it a try.
If you do end up carpooling with a coworker, talk about it in a casual, upbeat way.
For example: “Jamie and I started carpooling on Tuesdays, and it’s actually made the mornings way more fun. Turns out we both love cheesy 80s playlists.”
Sharing the benefits helps others see that carpooling isn’t a hassle—it can be enjoyable and even something to look forward to.
Coordinating rides by hand can be a hassle, which is why it helps to use a tool like Middle Peninsula Rideshare. Our platform helps match you with coworkers or neighbors nearby who are also looking to carpool.
Having a simple system in place removes some of the social pressure and makes organizing rides feel more natural and less personal.
One Small Step Toward a Better Commute
You don’t need to overhaul your workplace culture to make a difference. All it takes is one or two people willing to start the conversation and make it easier for others to join in.
Keep it simple, keep it flexible, and let it grow from there.
Want to see who’s riding your way?
Explore Middle Peninsula Rideshare and find out how easy it can be to connect with fellow commuters in your area.
