NEWS & RESOURCES
Blog, Carpooling

Commuting to college can be a challenging experience for students. Between battling traffic, finding parking and the cost of gas, the daily drive can be stressful and costly. However, there’s a way to ease these burdens: carpooling.

By sharing the ride with others, college commuters can save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and make their journey more enjoyable. One effective tool for organizing carpooling among college students in the Middle Peninsula area is MidPenRideShare.

Read on to see how carpooling and MidPenRideShare can transform your college commute.

Saving Money:
One of the most compelling reasons to carpool is the financial savings. Gas prices are constantly fluctuating, and commuting long distances can be a significant expense. By sharing the ride with one or more students, you can split the cost of gas, reducing each person’s contribution. Additionally, carpooling can reduce the wear and tear on your vehicle, leading to fewer maintenance costs in the long run.

Reducing Traffic and Stress:
Traffic is a major pain point for many commuters, especially during rush hours. Carpooling can help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which in turn can decrease traffic congestion. Fewer cars on the road mean less time spent in traffic and a smoother, more relaxed commute. Plus, when you’re not the one driving every day, you can take turns behind the wheel, giving yourself a break to relax, study or even catch up on sleep.

Environmental Impact:
Carpooling is an environmentally friendly choice. By reducing the number of cars on the road, you decrease the overall emissions contributing to air pollution. This is particularly important in the Mid-Peninsula area, where traffic congestion can significantly impact air quality. By choosing to carpool, you’re making a small but important contribution to reducing your carbon footprint.

Social Interaction:
Commuting with others can make your journey more enjoyable. It provides an opportunity to make new friends, network, and even collaborate on academic projects. It can transform your commute from a solitary experience into a social one, making the time spent on the road more pleasant.

Carpooling is a smart choice for college commuters. It offers a range of benefits, from saving money to reducing stress and helping the environment. MidPenRideShare makes it easy to find and organize a carpool, connecting you with fellow students who are looking to share the ride.

So, why tackle the daily commute alone when you can share the journey with others? Give carpooling a try and see how it can transform your college experience.

MidPenRideShare is a free service operated by the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission for residents, workers, commuters, and tourists in Virginia’s Middle peninsula (Counties of Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, and Middlesex and the towns of Tappahannock, Urbanna, and West Point).
The Commission has partnered with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and their Virginia-wide ConnectingVA program to provide free ridematching to find carpools, vanpools, and all forms of public transportation, trip planning, and information on park-and-ride lots, bike share services, electric vehicle charging stations, and rewards.