Flexible Carpools: Brian Canada and Tracey Rodriguez
“The best thing about Scoop is getting to know folks who live and work around me. . . . and I can make almost $100 a week!” - Tracey Rodriguez
Brian Canada has been a drive-alone commuter most of his commuting years at Stanford. That is, until he became a recent convert to Scoop. Brian who is a 25-year Stanford employee, was inspired to try Scoop after talking to Tracey Rodriguez, a colleague in his building.
“Tracey told me she benefited from using Scoop both as a rider, while she was recovering from an injury, and as a driver, since the financial incentives offset her regular driving expenses,” Brian says.
After talking with Tracey, Brian discovered that as a driver he could earn up to $12 per trip--or more with each additional rider. As a rider, his commute could be as low as $1 per trip. He also learned that the enhanced reimbursement to drivers and reduced cost to riders is thanks to a carpool subsidy provided by his very own department—Stanford Transportation—where he is parking operations coordinator. This means that, on average, it would take just three days of carpooling with Scoop as a driver to cover the cost of a ‘C’-permit, assuming it’s a two-person carpool.
Unlike traditional carpools, which typically require an ongoing commitment, Brian also found that the flexibility of Scoop allowed him to carpool when it fit his schedule and book separate morning and afternoon trips.
A carpool that fits your work schedule
Both Brian and Tracey agree that one of the benefits of Scoop is its flexibility, especially for commuters who have an unconventional schedule.
As an event manager living in Cupertino, Tracey’s fluctuating schedule prevented her from using a more traditional method of carpooling that consistently left in the morning and in the afternoon at the same time with the same person or people.
“Using Scoop, it is up to me if I want to just give someone a ride in the morning, evening or both. On a week where I get two passengers and carpool both ways each day, I can make almost $100 a week,” Tracey says.
Brian also appreciates the freedom that Scoop gives him. He says, “Scoop is a very flexible option for people who maybe feel that they can’t commit to it all the time. You can commit to one trip at a time.”
Meet your neighbors
Tracey found that Scoop gave her a chance to meet her neighbors, while only adding 10 minutes to her daily commute.
“Everyone who lives in my neighborhood is from different kinds of backgrounds,” she says. “I’ve met so many new and interesting people.”
She has even been invited to attend a performance of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra by a fellow Scoop carpooler, who is an orchestra member.
While using Scoop, Brian has met many young professionals who recently moved to the Bay Area. He finds that using Scoop is an unconventional networking opportunity.
“Once I got registered and rolling with Scoop, the personal interactions and new friendships that formed have become the most enjoyable aspect of carpooling,” he says.
As a driver, he even has some regular riders—and now friends—he picks up at least once a week.
Guaranteed Ride Home program
An additional bonus is Scoop’s Guaranteed Ride Home. When using Scoop as a rider to get to work, you are guaranteed a ride home if you don’t have a match for your return trip. Scoop will reimburse the cost of the ride home up to a maximum of $50 per month.
If you want to offset your commuting costs, consider signing up for Scoop at www.takescoop.com and downloading the app.
If you prefer to match only with other Stanford affiliates, Stanford offers ridematching options for Stanford affiliates only. Visit our carpool/vanpool listings to search by origin (e.g., home) and destination (e.g., Main Campus, park-and-ride lots, off-campus worksites) within the Stanford community. Unlike the Scoop app, which is automated and notifies you of matches, the Stanford-only option is a ride posting board that requires you to view listings and initiate contact.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact us at commuteclub@stanford.edu. We would be glad to help you start carpooling!
Photo credit: Steve Castillo
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