Oregon’s new carpooling tool helps reduce driving alone

A new carpool matching tool is now available from Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) with the goal to help share the cost of commuting and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Get There is a web-based tool that helps plan trips and share rides with single trips or on a regular basis.  

By typing in a starting point and a destination, users can see options for both passengers and drivers looking to share rides.

“Our goal is to help people have more choices for the way they travel,” said ODOT Highway Division Administrator Kris Strickler. “With more options, we usually see fewer vehicles on the road – and that means less congestion and frustration for everyone.”

Get There also provides users with information about vanpools for popular commutes, like between Portland and Salem. The website also offers transit, bike and walking directions.

Organizations working to reduce drive alone trips across Oregon in places like Lane County, Rogue Valley, and Deschutes County run programs that give their participants prizes to reduce their drive-alone trips. These programs will use Get There to help users track their trips and see how much fuel and money they are saving, as well as their reduced carbon footprint.

In October, Get There will host the annual Get There Challenge, formerly the Oregon Drive Less Challenge. This year’s challenge will feature a range of prizes for Oregonians who log trips made without driving alone. Sponsors include Providence Health & Services and Bike Friday. More details will be announced later this summer.