Commuting Couples Contest Winners: Pairs Who Care Ride-Share

Even though their commute involves navigating twisty, notoriously dangerous Highway 17 and standstill traffic on 85, the group says their journey is stress-free thanks to great chemistry and shared driving duties. “We would never have met in this combination if not for the vanpool – but it turns out we have lots to talk about and to learn from each other during our rides,” said Nicole, a research scholar for the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, adding that the only expense for the group is splitting the cost of gas.

“Instead of taking individual cars, we’re just one van on the road, so in terms of saving money and helping alleviate congestion, it makes a big difference,” said Nicole.  The group characterizes the inconspicuous minivan as an example of ‘commoning’ – the action of collectively managing and stewarding a shared resource, based on self-governance and sustainability.

So how did these strangers find each other? With the help of the Stanford Carpool and Vanpool Listings. Three years ago, Helen connected with a colleague who was recruiting riders for a Santa Cruz vanpool. (A vanpool needs at least four or more eligible employees to satisfy program requirements, but non-eligible affiliates may also ride.) Over the years, riders came and went, and eventually the current group branched off to form its own group.

Before joining, Viggo and Aimee drove to campus three or four times a week from Aptos (south of Santa Cruz). Bearable at first thanks to audiobooks, the duo soon found that sitting behind the wheel for 1.5 to 2 hours each way was soul-crushing. Now, they say, their experience is a pleasure. The group sleeps, relaxes, and shares their favorite camping and hiking spots (a definite sign of trust) as well as inspirational scientific articles and cool music shows coming to town. 

Comprising a cross-section of Stanford departments, disciplines, and affiliations, they are at different life stages, which makes for meaningful conversations. “Well, maybe not so much in the mornings, but at least in the afternoons,” said Viggo with a laugh. “Good discussions make the long trip feel shorter, so it’s perfect.” 

The vanpool runs five days a week with different combinations of riders. Our winning couples don’t necessarily always commute together, and even when they do, they still find themselves engaging with others as much as they do with each other.

The secret to success, the Cruzin’ Couples say, is finding four or more people who not only live in the same area but also have flexibility in arrival and departure times. After that, it’s easy: scheduling drivers, paying for gas via Venmo, and ensuring routine vehicle maintenance. Once they determined a safe parking spot (a rider's private home in Scotts Valley), they employed a vanpool hack: stashing a spare key in a nearby lockbox to make the handoff seamless, regardless of who drives on any given day.

Their unexpected friendships even spill over to occasional parties and dinners. “Studies have shown that an important determinant of quality of life is the distance of your commute,” said Nicole. “In our experience, it’s not only distance but also the lovely company that you can keep while commuting.”

The van pool runs on good humor. When the group first floated the idea of entering our Commuting Couples contest, Aimee texted the others: “You know what they say... the pair that cares ride shares.”