Rideshare for the Win!
Posted on October 4, 2024
Ridesharing makes it easier than ever to leave your car at home. Learn how you can spend less time on the road and less money on fuel, parking, and vehicle maintenance, all while reducing traffic and air pollution. Joining a vanpool is an easy rideshare option that can work for you!
With King County Metro, if you can get five people together to share a commute schedule for at least three days per week, transit agencies will provide you with a van to use. (Really!)
About Vanpool:
Basics – Vanpool is a great way to share the ride with others who commute similarly to work. These group members remain consistent and can include co-workers, friends, or neighbors. One of the group members drives the van, and the riders meet at a pre-set location or are picked up on the way and typically dropped off at their work location. The program includes everything – van, gas, maintenance, insurance, 24-hour roadside assistance, and the emergency ride home program.
Flexibility – Vanpools are available for any work schedule—full-time, part-time, shift and evening or weekends. You can also request a free bike rack for your van to combine biking with your vanpool commute.
Fares – Cost will vary but may be similar to a monthly transit pass.
Vanpool Guaranteed Ride Home Program Benefits:
An active vanpooler is eligible for up to six emergency rides home per year. These six rides are in addition to any benefits your employer may provide. King County Metro asks if you do have employer-provided benefits, that you exhaust those prior to using your six trips provided by King County Metro.
Learn how to join an existing vanpool with this handy infographic, or use this infographic to learn how to start a new vanpool!
Find a Vanpool seat
Use this site to find available vanpool seats. Fill in the "Start" and "End" boxes with an address or zip code and click "Search" to see a list of vanpools going your way! You can also click the buttons on the right side of this site to see lists of Bellevue vans.
What Does It Cost
The cost is shared with the van members and determined by whether you are a full-time, part-time, or shift/weekend user and how many miles traveled. Please visit King County Metro's fare calculator for your exact fare information.
Learn how to join an existing vanpool with this handy infographic, or use this infographic to learn how to start a new vanpool!
Vanpool Promotions
Affordable commuting made easy! King County Metro’s Vanpool pilot program is perfect for those earning $25 or less per hour. For just $49/month, get all-inclusive benefits like van, fuel, tolls, and maintenance. Join a vanpool today! bit.ly/kcmvanpool
Already in a vanpool? Did you know that if you refer a friend to King County Metro Vanpool you will receive $50?! Find out more at bit.ly/vanpoolreferral
Vanshare
King County Metro’s Vanshare program is like vanpool, but the van must connect to a transit hub. Get five or more people to share a commute to or from a Park & Ride, commuter rail station or ferry terminal and King County Metro will provide a van for a flat monthly rate.
Vanshare Basics:
5-15 people decide on a schedule and share an agency-provided van.
Vanshare riders must meet at a transit hub.
20-mile round trip maximum daily commute (10 miles each way)
Riders split a flat monthly fare
Fuel, maintenance and insurance are covered.
Vanshare riders are eligible for a reimbursable Guaranteed Ride Home by taxi, so you'll never be stranded in case of suddenly changing plans.
Learn more about the differences between vanpool and vanshare with this infographic.
Don’t forget to log your vanpool (and other sustainable) trips to earn exciting rewards! Visit our rewards page to learn more: https://ChooseYourWayBellevue.org/rewards