Vanpooling vs. high-mpg vehicles (buy, hybrid, city, Boston)

[eskercurve]

Given the benefits of vanpools, in areas where its feasible, what would you rather do?

Commute as you normally do in a high MPG vehicle, or would you vanpool?

Refer to this thread for reference: http://www.city-data.com/forum/fruga...ml#post9296130

Personally I like vanpooling. As I noted in the other thread, in a 15 person vanpool, even if the van is only 10 full, and even if the van only gets 10 mpg, you are still doing 100 mpg. All without having to buy a car that honestly is for geeks only, and is just as convenient.

That said I'd still get a high mpg vehicle for non-commute options, but I'm focusing on commuting options here. Why haven't more people used vanpooling? There's great federal programs out there now, and some employers subsidize it!

[GregW]

Vanpooling is easier than driving (driving the van is not worth it IMHO - BTDT) but not a nice as a bus or train. I would rather sleep than drive in I-93 traffic to and from Boston.

[Captain Worley]

I like driving and hate riding with others, so high mpg vehicle for me, please (as long as it is entertaining).

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by Captain Worley

I like driving and hate riding with others, so high mpg vehicle for me, please (as long as it is entertaining).

To each his own.

I also like driving ... but I don't own a high mpg vehicle, it's a Z4, so I save money by taking the vanpool.

[HighPlainsDrifter73]

I like driving alone and don't want to lengthen my commute any more. Besides, I come in very early and leave early. No one comes in at the time I do. I need to have flexibility and the ability to come and go on a moments notice. I won't give that up.

[firebll31]

I attempted carpooling once. The first day, my ride was late. I ended up clocking into work late. This meant the night shift people had to stay over, because no one was there to relieve them. I then realized if we had an accident while carpooling, it would be VERY difficult to replace both employees on short notice (this was a weekend shift at the hospital). We gave up the idea shortly afterward. If we had convenient affordable safe public transportation here, I would consider using it. A train would be great.

[StealthRabbit]

Find a VW Diesel Rabbit in your neighbor's brier patch, fuel it with waste grease, and haul 3 other commuters.

I collected a whole litter of Rabbits for no more than $35 each.

Or make an econo 'hybrid'
EV Pusher | MrSharkey.Com

StealthRabbit - 50 mpg since 1976... Where have you been? No dinosaurs required

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by firebll31

...I then realized if we had an accident while carpooling, it would be VERY difficult to replace both employees on short notice (this was a weekend shift at the hospital). We gave up the idea shortly afterward. If we had convenient affordable safe public transportation here, I would consider using it. A train would be great.

Safety is primary, and when working in Europe, we had to stop our vanpools due to losing some key people. (more than once).

I would be sure I was not in a 15 passenger van (prefer a bus / train is even better). AND be sure the driver has a CDL, as they are held to a much higher standard of driving. Might want to assure the insurance level. After finding inadequate insurance coverage, I left a bus driving job.

[BrokenTap]

I've done both. I liked carpooling because it was nice to have someone to talk too. Still there was times when it meant juggling schedules around in order to get things done and take days off. It was not insurmountable, but it was a pain.

Pros and cons to both.

Myself car pooling made a boring ride tolerable.