1. What is included in the subsidy? Is there a maximum amount?

Stanford will fully subsidize the monthly fare for qualifying vanpools. This does not include gas and tolls. There is a maximum subsidy amount of $1,200 per month.

Since eligible vanpool members receive the subsidy plus Clean Air Cash as Commute Club members, we encourage each vanpool to create a reserve fund to cover temporary periods of empty seat(s). This will help ensure your vanpool can continue through volatility in membership.

2. Does my vanpool qualify?

In order to qualify for the subsidy, your van must have at least five members who are eligible for the Commute Club. In order to eligible, you must work or study on the main campus at least 20 hours a week and cannot have a long-term parking permit, among other requirements.

Find out more about Commute Club eligibility on our website or contact us at commuteclub@stanford.edu to verify your eligibility.  

3. Some of my vanpool partners are not Commute-Club eligible or not affiliated with Stanford. Can they be part of my group?

Stanford commuters who are not Commute-Club eligible and non-Stanford affiliated members can ride with the vanpool, but they do not count towards receiving the subsidy.

4. How can I find more members for my vanpool?

Our Carpool and Vanpool Listings page can match you with additional Stanford affiliates. You can view posts from others looking to start or join a carpool or vanpool. You can also make a profile for your own group. We encourage you add a profile regardless of whether you are looking for more riders at this time.  

Another option is Scoop, a casual carpooling app that provides ridematching services to the Stanford community. You can use Scoop on a day-to-day basis to request rides or passengers. While Scoop’s network is public, it is an opportunity to find potential Stanford carpool and vanpool partners.

Our Ridematching page has more information about Scoop, the Carpool and Vanpool Listings page, and other ridematching services, which you are welcome to use.

You can also contact our vanpool provider, Enterprise (Natalie Freitas, Natalie.J.Freitas@ehi.com). They keep a list of potential vanpoolers.

5. I have my five-person (or larger) group. What do I do now? What about parking?

Contact our vanpool provider, Enterprise Rideshare, about leasing a van (Natalie Freitas, Natalie.J.Freitas@ehi.com). They will work with you to lease the van. They can also help you with other van-specific logistics, including which van is appropriate for you and which of your members will be drivers.

You will also need to apply for a free permit through our office using a vanpool application. Your vanpool will receive a free ‘A-Carpool’ parking permit, which will allow  you to park in any ‘A’ or ‘C’ space, including the carpool spaces that are reserved for carpools until 10 a.m.

6. Do vanpool members qualify for other Commute Club incentives?  

Eligible members can join the Commute Club to receive Clean Air Cash and other membership rewards.

7. What happens if someone drops out or becomes ineligible?

When a van drops below five eligible members, P&TS will grant the van a one-month grace period (two months for a leave of absence if P&TS is notified in advance). If the fifth member has not returned or the van has not found a replacement member after one month, the vanpool will be considered a carpool:

• Commute Club members will receive Carpool Credit instead of Clean Air Cash.
• You will need to pay for your Carpool-A permit.
• Should you choose to keep the lease on your van, you will be responsible for paying the monthly vanpool fare and will be charged by your vanpool provider directly.

Please notify P&TS of any roster changes to your vanpool by submitting a new vanpool application. Failure to do so can result in penalties and/or in the loss of vanpool or Commute Club privileges for your members.

We encourage each van to have extra members if possible, as well as to create a reserve fund to cover temporary periods of empty seat(s).

8. What happens if a member of the vanpool goes on leave?

If a vanpool member will be on leave for two months or less, we will allow the vanpool to continue receiving the subsidy provided that the vanpool members:

• Inform us in advance of the leave of absence.
• Provide the expected return date for the vanpool member.

9. What if one or more members of my vanpool wants to join on a part-time basis? 

Each eligible member must actually ride in the vanpool at least three days each week to count for the vanpool subsidy. Those taking other forms of sustainable transportation, such as transit, three-days or more per week do not qualify as full-time members. However, two part-time riders can count as one full-time rider for the purposes of the subsidy.

10. I have a five-person group, but one of our members doesn’t qualify. Can you make an exception in our case?

We have four-person carpools, and it would be unfair to them to subsidize four-person vanpools while not providing the same incentive to these carpools.  We encourage groups with four eligible members to start as a carpool until they identify a fifth eligible member.

11. Who can I contact if I have other questions?

We are happy to answer your questions and help you form and start a vanpool. You can reach us at commuteclub@stanford.edu or 650.736.9923.