Carpool Program
What is the definition of carpool?
Carpooling is where a group of two (2) or more individuals take turns driving to and from a common
destination, reducing costs, traffic, and environmental impact. Carpooling helps to reduce pollution, cuts down
on gas and oil consumption costs (you can split these costs) and can extend the life of your car. If more people
carpooled, peak travel times would be less stressful, and parking would be more accessible to patients. Did you
know that on average, carpooling with another person can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.72 kilograms
(Source: Transport Canada). If you were to carpool for a year, you would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions
by approximately 893 kilograms.
What are the benefits of carpooling with HealthCareCommuter.com?
- 50% discount on parking fees: The discounted carpool parking pass can be obtained via the LMC
Parking HangTag Portal. The fee is paid monthly via credit card. One (1) verified carpool trip must be
completed to apply and five (5) verified carpool trips must be made in a 30-day period to maintain status
via TDMCS HealthCareCommuter platform.
- Reduce traffic congestion and use of the HOV lane: Reducing lone driving trips can reduce overall
traffic impacts thereby improving community goals and objectives for sustainable travel and development.
- Carpool parking: Take advantage of the designated carpool parking stalls (no more circling the
parkade prior to your shift).
- Improving personal well-being: Carpooling allows sharing of the driving responsibility, which can
reduce stress and lead to higher employee retention and satisfaction.
- Reduced environmental impacts: Reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The
estimated average annual cost to own and operate a personal vehicle in Canada is approximately between
$7,000 and $10,000.
How to get Started:
HealthCareCommuter.com is an online platform and community that connects HealthBC network staff and
Medical Staff to find carpooling partners, simplifying their journey to an eco-friendlier commute.
- Sign up on the website, or on the “Health Care Commuter” iOS or Android app
- Enter your origin and work site locations
- Enter the days and times you wish to carpool
- Choose from a selection of commuters who live and work near you to start a carpool!
Read the TDMCS HealthCare Commuter - frequently asked questions for more
information.
Where to park:
Carpool Parking Pass Terms & Conditions:
Carpool Tips:
- Before you start carpooling, here are some tips to consider:
- Meet in advance. Regardless of whether you are planning on carpooling with a co-worker or someone
new, set up an initial meeting in a public place to get to know one another’s expectations around carpooling
and plan your commute together to ensure your carpool match will work for you.
- Ensure your carpool partners have your home, work, or cell numbers just in case plans change. Also,
do not forget to give notice of vacation, personal or overtime plans.
- Establish your route and schedule, agree on the pickup/drop-off point(s) and times to meet for the
trip home. Decide as a group how long you will wait for a passenger.
- Cost-sharing: If your carpool partners do not share the driving equally, decide how the costs will
be shared and agree on payment dates.
- Establish a driving schedule if the driving is shared: Driving schedules can alternate on a daily,
weekly or monthly basis.
- Set ground rules on what can be done in the car, such as eating or drinking, whether the car is
scent-free and whether side trips are okay, such as a morning coffee stop.
- Keep the car clean, in good repair, filled with enough gas for each trip and drive carefully and
responsibly.
Carpool trips must be made via www.HealthCareCommuter.com for this program. The
driver must post their trip on the app and confirm the passenger request. All steps identified in the app to
verify pickup, and drop-off must be completed. Live tracking must be enabled on all carpool group members’
apps for verification and access to premium parking spots. Definition of carpool means 2 or more
HealthCareCommuter users traveling to and from work in the same vehicle. Carpool ‘driver’ must successfully
match and initiate trips with carpool 'passengers’ within the app. In order to keep the Discounted Carpool
Parking Pass, there needs to be a minimum of 5 verified carpool trips within the last 30 days. Otherwise,
without the required amount of carpool trips the ‘driver’ will be cancelled out of the parking program.
Carpool ‘drivers’ can always re-apply after carpooling trips have started again; however, it is up to
parking administration's discretion to approve carpool parking ePermit requests. Having 5 verified trips as
a ‘passenger’ or 5 bookings with no passengers does not grant eligibility for this Carpool Parking ePermit.
This ePermit will be waitlisted if demand exceeds inventory levels. In addition, parking in designated
carpool stalls are available on a first come first serve basis (where available). Parking administration has
the right to cancel parking privileges at any time, especially due to misuse of the platform.