Good to Know

Back To TopTips for a Successful Carpool or Vanpool

Make a Schedule
Creating a schedule is a good way to make sure everyone knows the times and locations for pick-ups and drop-offs. If you rotate driving responsibilities, you should include that information on the schedule, too.
Discuss Flexibility
When you create your schedule, make sure to discuss whether or not your group will wait for latecomers.
Split Expenses Fairly
Calculate what the total cost will be per passenger. Set up a schedule for payment and stick to it! Gas is usually the most obvious expense, but don’t forget to include maintenance and tolls in your calculations. Vanpool groups will need to divide the cost of the monthly vehicle fee as well.
Sweat the Small Stuff
Creating policies in advance for cell phone use, smoking, temperature – even radio stations – will make sure everyone knows the ground rules from the start! Addressing these items at the beginning will help avoid any unpleasant fights over the radio dial in the future.
Keep Everyone in the Loop
Tell your carpool or vanpool group about changes to your schedule. Whether it’s a vacation or planned overtime, it’s good to communicate this information as far in advance as possible.
Have a Backup Plan
There may be times when your driver has to unexpectedly leave work early or stay late. Our Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program can help in this situation for qualified carpool and vanpool groups. Be sure to have your entire group enroll for the ERH program – before they need to use it!
Keep in Contact
Make sure everyone shares contact information, including cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses. It’s a good idea to keep a print-out of this information in the vehicle, just in case someone is running late!

Back To TopContacting Your Matches

If you have a list of potential carpool or vanpool partners but are wondering how to start the conversation, we can help!

Sample E-Mail

Simply copy and paste the sample e-mail below, sending it to the people listed on your ridematch list.

Good afternoon!

My name is (Your Name Here) and you were listed as one of my potential carpool/vanpool matches through reThink’s ridematch database.

Are you still interested in sharing the ride to work? If so, you can reach me at (List Your Phone Number) or by e-mail at (List Your Email Address).

I look forward to talking with you soon!

Sincerely,
(Your Name)

Sample Phone Script

This sample phone script can be used when making that first call to one of your matches.

Hello! Is (Name of Potential Match) available?

My name is (Your Name). I found your name through reThink’s ridematch database.

Are you still looking for a carpool or vanpool partner?

Is there a time and a place that we can meet to discuss sharing the ride to work?

You can contact me at (List Your Phone Number) or by e-mail at (List Your Email Address).

Thank you for your time!

Back To TopTips for Riding Transit

If you haven’t been on a bus in a while, you probably have a lot of questions. Use the tables below to help answer some of your questions.

Central Florida Transit Agencies
Brevard County Titusville – Cocoa – Cocoa Beach – Rockledge – Melbourne – Palm Bay
Space Coast Area Transit www.ridescat.com	Customer Service 321-633-1878	Routes & Schedule Info
Lake County Eustis – Lady Lake – Mount Dora – Tavares – Umatilla – Zellwood
LakeXpress www.ridelakexpress.com	Customer Service 352-326-8637	Routes & Schedule Info
Marion County Ocala – Silver Springs Shores
SunTran www.ocalafl.org/SunTran	Customer Service 352-401-6999	Routes & Schedule Info
Orange County Apopka – Bay Lake – Belle Isle – Edgewood – Lake Buena Vista – Maitland – Ocoee – Orlando – Windermere – Winter Garden – Winter Park – Zellwood
LYNX www.golynx.com	Customer Service 407-254-6094	Route & Schedule Info
Osceola County Kissimmee – Poinciana – St. Cloud – Celebration
LYNX www.golynx.com	Customer Service 407-254-6094	Route & Schedule Info
Seminole County Altamonte Springs – Casselberry – Lake Mary – Longwood – Oviedo – Sanford – Winter Springs
LYNX www.golynx.com	Customer Service 407-254-6094	Route & Schedule Info
Sumter County County-Wide Service with Monday/Wednesday/Friday service to Gainesville
Sumter County Transit http://sumtercountyfl.gov	Customer Service 352-568-6683	Route & Schedule Info
Volusia County Daytona Beach – Debary – DeLand – Deltona – Edgewater – New Smyrna Beach – Pierson – Port Orange – Seville
Votran www.votran.org	Customer Services 386-761-7700	Route & Schedule Info

Transit Tips

Here’s some important information to read before setting out on your first bus trip.

Have your bus fare ready
You’ve been there before – waiting in line while someone digs in their pockets for exact change to pay the cashier. When you’re riding a bus, make sure you have your bus fare ready to go before you board. The time it takes for you to dig that last quarter out of your pocket may be the time someone else needs to make a connection to another bus!

If you are going to be riding the bus more than a couple of times a week, consider purchasing a bus pass. Not only will this save you money – often the cost of a weekly or monthly bus pass is much cheaper than paying for each individual ride – using a bus pass means never having to look for change or ask for a transfer.

Central Florida Bus Fare Information
TRANSIT AGENCY	ONE-WAY FARE	BUS PASS RATES
LakeXpress	Regular Fare – $1 Discounted Fare* – $0.50 Children (under 5) – Free with paying adult	All-Day Pass – $3 Discounted All-Day Pass* – $1.50 10-Ride Pass – $8 Discounted 10-Ride Pass* – $4 30-Day Pass – $30 Discounted 30-Day Pass* – $15
	*Discounted Fare and Passes are available to Seniors age 60 or older with valid ID, Medicare cardholders, SSI/SSD recipients, Veterans with a valid DD214 card, Students with a valid school ID or proof of enrollment, Disabled
LYNX	Fixed Route Single Ride – $2 AdvantAge & Youth Fare* – $1 Link 200 and 204 Xpress Route Single Ride – $3.50 Link 200 and 204 Xpress Route AdvantAge & Youth Fare – $1.75 PickUpLine Single Ride -$2 PickUpLine AdvantAge & Youth Fare – $1 Children (under 6) ride free (limit 3) when accompanied by a full-fare paying adult (age18-over) passenger. If not accompanied by an adult, children must pay $1.00.	All Day Pass – $4.50 AdvantAge & Youth All-Day Pass – $2.25 7-Day Standard Pass – $16 AdvantAge & Youth 7-Day Pass – $8 30-Day Standard Pass – $50 AdvantAge & Youth 30-Day Pass – $25 All Day Xpress Pass – $6.50 AdvantAge & Youth All-Day Xpress Pass $3.25 7-Day Link 204 Xpress Pass – $23 AdvantAge & Youth 7-Day Link 204 Xpress Pass $11.50 30-Day Link 204 Xpress Pass – $70 AdvantAge & Youth 30-Day Link 204 Xpress Pass – $35 PickUpLine – Uses standard LYNX passes
	*AdvantAge prices are available to riders 65 and older or with disabilities. Seniors must present proof of age with a valid photo ID when purchasing a pass or paying a fare. Customers with disabilities must present a valid LYNX I.D. card or Medicare card when purchasing a pass or paying a fare. Youth fares and passes are available for riders age 18 and younger. Please be prepared to show an ID, if requested by the bus operator.
Space Coast Area Transit	Regular Fare – $1.25 Reduced Fare* – $0.60	Regular Fare, 10 Ride Pass – $10 Reduced Fare, 10 Ride Pass – $5 Regular Fare, Monthly Pass – $35 Reduced Fare, Monthly Pass – $17
	* Seniors 60+, Disabled, Veterans and Students. BCC Students ride free with BCC Student ID Card. There is no charge for children under 5, or for transfers.
Sumter County Transit	Door to Door – $1.50 each way Gainesville Trips – $8 each way Shuttle Routes – $0.50	No Passes Available
SunTran	Regular Fare – $1.50 Youth/Student Fare – $1.10 Senior/Disabled – $0.75 Medicare Card holders- $0.75 Children under 5 – Free with paying adult	Regular Monthly Pass – $45 Youth/Student Monthly Pass – $34 Senior/Disabled Monthly Pass – $23
Votran	Fixed Route Single Ride – $1.25 Reduced Fare* – $0.60 Ten Full Fare Tokens – $11.25 Ten Reduced –Fare Tokens* – $5.40 Fixed Route Single Ride (Up to 3 Children under six years old with adult) – FREE I-4 Express Link Fare – $3.50 Reduced I-4 Express Link Fare* – $1.75	All-Day Pass – $3 Reduced All-day Pass* – $1.50 Three-Day Pass – $6 Reduced Three-Day Pass* – $3 Seven-Day Pass – $12 Reduced Seven-Day Pass* – $6 31-Day Pass – $40 Reduced 31-Day Pass* – $20 I-4 Express Link 10 Full Fare Tokens – $31.50 I-4 Express Link 10 Reduced Fare Tokens – $15.75I-4 Express Link Monthly Pass – $80 Reduced I-4 Express Link Monthly Pass – $40
	*Reduced fares and passes are available for Seniors 65 and older, youth ages 6-17 and persons with disabilities. For reduced pricing on fares and passes, rider must show government-issued ID card showing valid proof of age or Volusia County school student ID card.

Get Comfortable – but not too comfortable
Once you’re on the bus and paid your fare, find a place to sit. One thing you’ll notice is that while the seats in the front are not reserved for the elderly and disabled, it makes it easier for everyone if you can leave those seats free for the passengers who need those seats the most.

However, if you loaded a bike onto the bike rack at the front of the bus, the drivers actually prefer that you sit up front to keep an eye on your bike and to make sure that you don’t forget it when you exit.
Know Where You’re Going
Riding the bus and driving a car are two very different experiences. One of the primary differences is that on a bus, you’re going where the driver takes you – a fixed route that typically cannot change the direction it is heading. That means you need to know where you need to go.

The best way to do this is to make sure you know the closest intersection to your destination. Drivers can help you find the place you’re going if you can provide references to landmarks and specific streets – not addresses. On your first trip, tell the driver when you board that you’re not sure where you need to exit – in most cases, the drivers will be able and willing to give you a “heads up” when your stop is coming up.

If you need a second bus to get where you’re going, make sure you ask for a transfer when you board. You will need the transfer pass in order to board the next bus. The table below provides more information on each transit agency’s policy on bus transfers.

Transit Agency Transfer Policies
LakeXpress – Free transfer pass to complete a one-way trip (one per trip)
LYNX – Free transfers, limited to 90 minutes. Not valid on same Link or for roundtrip purposes. Transfer passes are not necessary for pass users. Make sure to check for the time expiration stamped on the back of the transfer ticket.
Space Coast Area Transit –Transfers are free and issued at transfer points only.
Sumter County Transit – Transfers are not needed for this flex bus service.
SunTran – Transfers are provided at no charge when used to complete a trip and must be performed at the Central Transfer Station and the Marion County Public Health Department.
Votran – Transfers are not offered. Riders may use a new all day pass for regular route travel for the entire day. Other pass options are available for use on consecutive days.

Take Everything With You!
While each transit agency makes their best effort to gather lost items and return them when claimed, it goes a long way if you can make sure not to leave anything in the first place!

If you do accidentally leave something on the bus – including a bike on the bike rack – the table below has the phone numbers for each agency’s Lost & Found division of their Customer Service departments.

Transit Agency Customer Service Departments Lost & Found Contact Information
Lake Xpress	352-326-8637
LYNX	407-841-5969 – Option 2
Space Coast Area Transit	321-633-1878 – Option 4
Sumter County Transit	352-568-6683 – Option 2
SunTran	352-401-6999
Votran	386-761-7700

Use the Rear Door to Exit
One of the simplest ways to make the bus riding experience better for everyone is to exit through the rear doors. Not only does this help the flow of traffic by allowing new passengers to pay their fare and find a seat quickly, it will also remind you that you should never cross the street in front of the bus.

Always use the closest pedestrian crosswalk or intersection if you need to cross the street to get to your destination. It may seem faster to dart in front of the bus and zigzag across traffic, but it is extremely dangerous. At the end of the day, you’ll get there much faster by using a crosswalk than if you have to take a detour to the emergency room!

Back To TopTips on Telecommuting

Let Us Help!
Thinking about setting up a telecommuting program at your worksite? Contact us directly at 1-866-610-RIDE (7433) or by e-mail – we can help walk you through the process!
Come Together
If your business is considering allowing employees to telecommute, the best “first step” is to make sure everyone is on the same page.

The best way to do this is to create a Telework Team, composed of people from different departments. This is a great way to identify and address challenges that you may face, from the IT department to the Customer Service division.
Identify Potential Telecommute-Friendly Positions
Not all types of jobs can be done from home. It is important to review the duties of different positions at your company, identifying which jobs could be performed off-site.
Try It Out Through a Pilot Program
Once you have identified which duties could be performed off-site, consider putting together a pilot program to see how it goes. This will give you the opportunity to address issues that may arise, from internet security to computer hardware needs.
Set Policy & Goals
Building on the lessons learned from the Pilot Program, create a company-wide telecommuting policy. When developing the policy, consider setting short-term and long-term goals for implementation.

Back To TopTips for Park & Ride Lot Users

Follow the Rules
Each FDOT lot has rules and regulations posted throughout the lot. These rules include not parking in excess of 24 hours, not parking commercial vehicles at the lots, and not abandoning your vehicle at the lot.
Lock It Up!
Lock your car doors before heading to work.
Clean Up
Do not leave any items in plain sight in your car. Even if they don’t have value to you, they may hold value to someone else. Clean out your car and keep must-have items in the trunk of your car.
Be Alert
Keep an eye out for security concerns. Do not hesitate to report them by calling local law enforcement.
Plan Ahead
Some highly utilized lots fill up quickly! Because parking is available on a first come, first served basis, you are not always guaranteed to have a space waiting for you.
Don’t Forget Your Lights
Leaving your lights on all day can drain your battery.
Use a Sun Shade
The Central Florida sun can make the interior of a car very uncomfortable after a full day of sitting in the sun. Sun shades can help keep the temperature a few degrees cooler.

Back To TopTestimonials

Have a great story about how your alternative commute mode has saved you tons of money? Want to share a tale of how your active commute has helped you decrease your carbon footprint?

Let us know! You may be featured on our web site!