+ How many people are in a vanpool?

Commuteride will start a new vanpool route with as little as 5 monthly riders with the same commute. Commuteride gives new vanpools 3 months to increase its ridership to 7 monthly riders. Any existing van falling below 7 monthly riders is also given 90 days to increase it’s ridership. Commuteride will assist in marketing vanpools to increase ridership.

+ Who can participate?

Our program offers two rider types currently: monthly and part-time. A Monthly Rider can ride as many days per month that the van operates and pays a full monthly fare. A Part-Time Rider can ride up to 8 days each month and pays a reduced amount (50% of the full monthly fare). Participants must request approval from Commuteride for part-time rider status.

+ Will my employer pay all or part of my fare?

In January 2022, the U.S. tax code will allow tax-free transportation fringe benefit of up to $280 a month per employee for riding in a vanpool. Employees receive the benefits in one of three ways: 1) through a tax-free employer-paid subsidy, 2) a pre-tax employee-paid payroll deduction, or 3) a combination of both.
If you aren’t sure if your employer would subsidize all or part of your fare, call our office (208-345-POOL) and we can share what we may know. There are at least a dozen Treasure Valley employers that offer a vanpool subsidy.

+ How do I pay my fare?

You may make a single transaction or set up a recurring payment online. Once we receive your Participant Agreement, we send you an invitation link to set up a username and password to make your payments online. You can also call us with a card in hand and make payments by phone (208-345-POOL). We also accept payments by check which you can mail in or give to your driver to send with their monthly report to our office at 3775 Adams St, Garden City, ID. View the 2022 Vanpool Fare schedule linked below.

+ What is the Family/Medical Leave policy?

Commuteride may grant a leave of absence, up to 90 days, to a passenger with a medical or family emergency beyond his/her control in one calendar year. To obtain a leave of absence, vanpoolers submit a completed Medical/Family Leave form (found on our website and/or on request) to Commuteride for review/approval. If approved, a vanpooler’s seat is “saved” until they return, they do not pay a policy to accommodate temporary leaves for convenience sake or summer vacations

+ Do the vanpools have roadside assistance?

Commuteride is a proud partner of AAA Oregon/Idaho! AAA will supplement Commuteride’s customer service by providing 24/7 emergency roadside assistance for all Commuteride vans, making your smart commute as worry-free as possible!

+ What is the vacation policy?

Participants wishing to take vacation from the vanpool can do so in two ways:

1. Pay the entire monthly/part-time fare to reserve their seat until his/her return with the option of subletting his/her seat (approval from the driver and Commuteride is required).
2. Pay for rides at the daily pro-rated fare (full monthly/part-time fare divided by 21 days) until the last day ridden. However, returning participants are not eligible for the First Month Free incentive, seat availability is not guaranteed, and the Anniversary Credit and Emergency Ride Home+ dates start the month a returning participant pays their first full monthly/part-time fare.
   

+ How does “Emergency Ride Home” work?

In the case of an emergency including family illness, unexpected overtime, etc. our emergency ride home program will take riders back to their pick-up point if a situation arises that prohibits you from using an alternative transportation mode to get home. The Emergency Ride Home is available to participants that have gone to work that day by vanpool. Reimbursement will not cover rides home due to natural events, such as heavy snowstorms, blizzards, earthquakes, etc.; planned/scheduled trips such as neither a doctor’s appointment; nor overtime known prior to going to work. To use the program, simply call Commuteride offices at 208-345-7665. We will set up your ride for you to head home. The ride provider bills us directly. Commuteride does not pay for or reimburse gratuities. Club Red members (vanpoolers) can use this program up to six (6) times per calendar year, with a maximum of $300 per year as long as funding is available. Commuteride reserves the right to verify alternative transportation modes on days participants use the emergency ride home option.

+ Are your drivers paid or ACHD employees?

Commuteride vans are driven by a member of the vanpool. We require a minimum of two volunteer drivers per van who pass our background check, an online training course (1.5 hours) and an in-person orientation class. The background check includes a 3-year Idaho Motor Vehicle Records check with the Idaho Transportation Department. Due to our insurance requirements, we require all vanpool drivers be 25 years or older, have less than 6 points on their 36-month driving record, and have at least five years of driving experience. If you have an out of state license, please provide your driving record with your application.

+ How do I share a complaint about one of your vans?

You may call our office (208-345-POOL) or send us an email at commuteride@achdidaho.org. Please provide the following details:
-Date, time, and relative location of the incident
-Van number
We take any concerns very seriously and conduct a thorough investigation with our volunteer drivers and riders.

+ What happens to vans that are no longer on route?

We operate each of our vans for an average of 7-9 years, or when they reach 120,000 -140,000 miles. When vans meet our surplus guidelines, we auction vehicles to the public. Vans purchased with federal funds are reimbursed back to the Federal Transit Authority for 80% of the sale price.