Vanpools
Want a ride from your neighborhood to Stanford? Join a vanpool! They're currently running all over the Bay Area. Want to form your own vanpool? Our free Ridematching Services can link you with other Stanford commuters from your neighborhood.
Now serving Berkeley, Modesto, San Francisco, Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, and Tracy.
On this page:
- What is a vanpool?
- How does vanpooling work?
- Stanford vanpool subsidy
- New vanpools
- Current vanpools
- In case of an emergency
What is a vanpool?
A commuter vanpool is a group of seven to fifteen people who ride to and from work each day in a comfortable passenger van. Vanpooling generally costs about the same each month as you now pay for gasoline alone. Arrive at work relaxed, refreshed, and ready for your day. Save wear and tear on your car, too.
You can ride most vanpools on a full-time or occasional basis, whichever fits your schedule. Full-time passengers have reserved seats and ride on a month-to-month basis. Occasional passengers ride on a space-available basis and pay a set fee per trip. And if you're the driver, you get free use of the van after-hours!
Incentive programs reward you for not driving alone.
Vanpool members can apply for Commute Club and qualify to receive up to $282 a year in Clean Air Cash.
Eligible employees may purchase commuter checks with pre-tax dollars via payroll deduction, and may use commuter checks to pay for part of their vanpool expenses! The exact amount saved by each individual will vary.
How does vanpooling work?
Drivers and riders benefit by:
- receiving a free vanpool parking permit (valid only in designated vanpool spaces)
- receiving a preferred parking space
Drivers are responsible for:
- picking up and dropping off passengers at designated site(s)
- collecting monthly payments from passengers to cover monthly expenses
- filling the gas tank (before passengers are picked up)
- keeping the van clean
- arranging for free maintenance
Drivers are rewarded by:
- usually riding free
- receiving personal use of the van on evenings and weekends
- having free insurance and maintenance coverage on the vanpool van
- sustaining less wear and tear on personal automobiles
Riders are responsible for:
- paying on time
- arriving at pre-arranged pick-up sites on time
- giving a 30-day notice if leaving the vanpool
- helping to recruit new passengers for the vanpool
Riders are rewarded by:
- being able to read the paper, sleep, daydream or socialize with new friends during the daily commute
- enjoying a stress-free commute
- potentially reducing personal auto insurance premiums
- sustaining less wear and tear on personal automobiles
- receiving up to $282 in Clean Air Cash
Get on the road. And stay on the road.
Once you're up and running, you'll be assigned consultants who are committed to the smooth operation of your vanpool. They'll help fill your empty seats, coach you through any personal conflicts that may arise, and even advise you on matters of "vanpool etiquette."
Stanford vanpool subsidy
Effective September 1, 2007, each official Stanford vanpool will receive a $200 per month subsidy to be paid by P&TS to the vanpool coordinator in the form of vanpool vouchers. This subsidy is intended to defray the cost of the van, subsidize gas expenses, subsidize empty seats, encourage the creation of a reserve fund to cover temporary periods of empty seat(s), or defray other operating costs of the van. Learn more about the vanpool subsidy program.
New vanpools
The following vanpools are looking for new members:
- La Honda
A new vanpool is forming from La Honda. Riders will agree upon the specific hours for this vanpool and the meeting location(s). If you are interested, please contact Jennifer Sexton at jbsexton@stanford.edu.
- Patterson
A new vanpool is forming from Patterson. The riders will agree upon the specific hours for this vanpool and the meeting location(s). If you are interested, please contact Joel Dollaga at jdollaga@stanford.edu.
- San Jose
A new vanpool is forming from San Jose. Riders will agree upon the specific hours for this vanpool and the meeting location(s). If you are interested, please contact Antonietta Scrofani at ascrofani@stanfordmed.org.
Current vanpools
The following vanpools are looking for new members:
- Berkeley
(Enterprise), since 1995
Pickups: Martin Luther King and Ashby at 6:20 a.m.
Drop-offs: Stanford Hospital, Serra & Galvez, 1450 Page Mill (Palo Alto)
Arrive: Stanford Hospital (E.R. entrance) at 7:15 a.m.; Serra & Galvez at 7:20 a.m.; 1450 Page Mill at 7:30 a.m.
Return: Leave 1450 Page Mill at 3:50 p.m.; Serra & Galvez at 4:00 p.m.; Stanford Hospital (E.R. entrance) at 4:05 p.m.; Arrive at MLK & Ashby (Ashby BART station) at approx. 5:20 p.m.
Contact: Linda Heneghan at (650) 724-1452 or Roberto Trujillo at (650) 725-9308/FAX (650) 723-8690. For more info on the Berkeley vanpool, visit their website at http://www.stanford.edu/group/berkeleyvan.
- Modesto
(Enterprise), since 1989 (14 seats)
Pickups: Meet at Pelandale Ave./Hwy 99 at 4 a.m. Pickup at Manteca (S. Main St. and Highway 120) at 4:05 a.m., and pickup at Tracy (Park-and-Ride parking lot at Grant Line and Hwy 205 near West Valley Mall) at 4:35 a.m.
Drop-offs: Stanford Hospital at 6:05 a.m.
Return: Leave Stanford Hospital at 3:10 p.m.; Arrive in Tracy at 4:55 p.m.; arrive in Modesto between 5:20-5:30 p.m.
Contact: Ken Horne at (650) 846-3529
- San
Francisco (Enterprise), since 1987 (8 seats)
Pickups: Corner of Miguel and Bemis 7:05 a.m./Glen Park Bart Station at 7:08 a.m.
Drop-offs: Medical Center at 7:45 a.m.; Encina at 7:50 a.m.; Hillview Bloodcenter/ Palo Alto VA at 8:00 a.m.
Return: Leave Hillview Bloodcenter/ Palo Alto VA shortly before 5:00 p.m.; Stanford/Encina at 5:06 p.m.; Medical Center at 5:15 p.m.; arrive in SF at 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Susan Englander at (650) 725-8829
- Santa
Cruz/Scotts Valley (Enterprise), since 1989 (12
seats)
Pickups: Pasatempo & Highway 17 at 5:49 a.m., Scotts Valley Drive & Glenwood at 5:56 a.m.
Drop-offs: Stanford at 6:45 a.m. (Serra and Galvez)
Van continues to Menlo Park and arrives at USGS at 7:10 a.m.
Pickups: Stanford at 3:50 p.m., arrive Santa Cruz at 4:55 p.m. and Pasatiempo at 5:10 p.m.
Contact: Regina Roberts at (650) 724-0848 or Carolyn Degan at (650) 329-5052 or Gil Ramirez at (650) 493-5000 x22918
- Tracy
(Enterprise), since 2000 (9 seats)
Pickups: Park-n-Ride parking lot at Grant Line and Hwy 205 near West Valley Mall. Van leaves at 4:20 a.m.; stops in Livermore
Drop-offs: Environmental Health & Safety
Depart: Environmental Health & Safety at 3 p.m.
Arrive: Park-n-Ride parking lot
Contact: Richard Wilkins at (650) 725-2129
In case of an emergency
"But what if my child gets sick and I have to leave immediately?"
"But what if my vanpool driver has to leave for an emergency?"
"But what if my neighbor calls to tell me my house is on fire?!"
The answer to these and other issues is Stanford's free Emergency Ride Home program. You are automatically enrolled in ERH when you join the Commute Club. Not eligible for the Commute Club? You can still pre-register for the Emergency Ride Home program if you meet eligibility requirements.
What if I need to run an off-campus errand?
Join the Commute Club, and you're eligible for up to 12 free hourly car rentals a year. If you are a Commute Club Zipcar member, you also receive up to $96 a year in Zipcar credit.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Phone: 650.723.9362. Fax: 650.724.8676. Email: transportation@stanford.edu