vanpooling/rideshare

How It Works

• Riders pay a monthly fare based on the number of riders and distance of the commute.
• Central Iowa Rideshare covers the cost of gas, maintenance and insurance from the fares.
• The driver rides for free and can use the van for up to 200 personal miles a month.
• Backup drivers pay a reduced fare.
• If there’s not currently a vanpool in your area, you can start one. All you need is a driver and four passengers.
• Try it out! Call Central Iowa Rideshare at 288-RIDE to get a free ride pass and see if vanpooling is right for you. 

Where Are Vanpools Available?

• Vanpools can now be started in Polk County as well as surrounding areas.
• All you need to start a vanpool is a driver and four passengers.

How Do I Sign Up?
If you are interested in joining or starting a vanpool, either call (515)288-RIDE or go online to http://www.ridedart.com/rideshare/.

Vanpooling FAQ’s

What is Central Iowa Rideshare?
Central Iowa Rideshare is a vanpooling program developed by the MTA to help Central Iowan's share rides to work. The program currently serves more than 600 people within a 90-mile radius of Des Moines.

What communities does Central Iowa Rideshare serve?
Recently the vanpool program was expanded to include communities within Polk County.  Central Iowa Rideshare also serves over 38 communities, including: Adair, Adel, Ames, Anita, Baxter, Boone, Chariton, Colfax, Desoto, Earlham, Greenfield, Guthrie Center, Huxley, Lacona, Indianola, Johnston, Knoxville, Marshalltown, Martensdale, Menlo, Melcher/Dallas, Milo, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Norwalk, Orient, Osceola, Panora, Pella, Perry, Pleasantville, Prairie City, St. Charles, State Center, Stuart and Winterset.

What is vanpooling?
A vanpool is a group of five or more people who share a ride to work in a van. Vanpools are generally more structured and formalized than carpools due to the cost of obtaining, maintaining and insuring the van. To cover operating costs, passengers pay a monthly fare.

How much does it cost?
The fare varies by number of passengers and the distance of your commute. Call 288-RIDE to find out about fares in your area.

How are fares collected?
Monthly invoices are sent to each Rideshare participant.

Could my fare change?
Fares typically do not fluctuate. When they do, changes in fare costs are changes that would also affect you as a one-person commuter. For example, changes in the price of gasoline, insurance or maintenance are generally passed on to passengers. The number of people in the vanpool also affects fares - the more riders, the less cost.

What kind of commitment do I have to make?
Central Iowa Rideshare allows interested commuters to “test it out” for a few days with a free ride pass. Once you decide it works for you, Central Iowa Rideshare requires a 90-day contract.

Is eating or smoking permitted in the van?
Smoking is not allowed in any of the Central Iowa Rideshare vans. You and the other riders decide the other rules of the vanpool, such as policies on waiting times, eating, perfumes and choice of radio stations.

What happens to the vanpool group when the driver is sick or on vacation?
Each vanpool has passengers who are designated back-up drivers and occasionally drive the van in exchange for a reduced fare and other benefits.

What if I have to work late or have an emergency?
No sweat! One of Central Iowa's best-kept secrets is a DART program that provides a vehicle or ride home if you are faced with a personal emergency. Just contact DART to learn more.

What if I need a vehicle for company-related work?
Ask your employer if a vehicle is available for you to drive. If not, DART may offer leased vehicles to employers whose employees use mass transit or Rideshare. Otherwise, consider scheduling out-of-office meetings two days a week and riding in the van the other three days.

What happens if I'm sick or oversleep?
Try to call the driver or the person on the first stop to let them know.

What happens when I go on vacation?
Your monthly fare reserves your seat. If you're not going to be using it, make advance arrangements with your vanpool driver or coordinator.

How do I get started?
To learn more about participating in a vanpool, contact Rideshare at (515) 288-RIDE.

Relax, enjoy the ride and watch your savings accumulate as you use Central Iowa Rideshare!