Happy Valentine’s Day from The Manteca Vanpool

Imagine adding a three to three-and-a-half-hour commute to your typical eight-hour workday. That’s the reality for a dedicated group of LBRE employees who commute to campus from Manteca. Fortunately, they take advantage of – and couldn’t be more grateful for – Stanford Transportation’s subsidized vanpool benefit.
 

“This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to us here,” said Ralph Lanto, an architectural trades maintenance person. “If you’re not using this program...you’re missing out.” 

“Saving money on gas, and wear and tear on our car, not having to fight traffic, and being able to relax on the days we don’t drive – those are all positives,” added Ryan Snethen, an HVAC mechanic. 

While all vanpool riders in the program share the cost of gas and tolls, the lease cost of the van is 100% covered by subsidies from Stanford Transportation and Dibs, a program of the San Joaquin Council of Governments. The vehicle also receives free insurance and maintenance.

Vanpooling combats the stress caused by commuting almost 150 miles a day. Jeremy Cook, a Faculty Staff and housing grounds manager, has ridden in the Manteca vanpool for ten years. On a typical day, he wakes at 2:30 a.m. and heads to meet fellow riders in nearby Lathrop at 3:55 a.m. From there, the group continues to Livermore, arriving at 4:30 a.m. to pick up its last two riders.

 “The physical and mental fatigue of spending 15-18 hours on the road each week can’t be underestimated,” said Jeremy. “That’s why sharing driving duties is critical for our group. Some vanpools have one primary driver and a backup, but sharing has always worked for us.” 

He added that the driver chooses both the route and music preferences, and the music is generally turned off or very low in the morning so people can rest.

The group is loose with rules and most everything is unwritten, but they avoid talking politics and keep the conversation light and polite.

“We've all been with LBRE for quite some time and manage to get along no matter what,” said Jeremy. 

“We look out for each other, texting on Sunday nights to check in to see who’s on board. We don’t want to leave anyone hanging. It’s all about respect,” added Ryan. 

Humor is key, too. A recent peek into the back of the vanpool several minutes before departure revealed an array of burly men cozied up with fleece blankets and neck pillows, smiling and good-naturedly ribbing one another (and posing with our Valentine’s Day props.)