It’s hard to say how much rising fuel prices will affect daily commuters at Fresno State. But one thing seems clear — students and faculty can save a bundle by using somebody else’s gas.

Carpooling has been championed by its supporters for its individual and community benefits, such as financial savings, reduced smog, less congested roads and more available parking.

But one big disadvantage of carpooling cited by students and others is the loss of “freedom� that would result from being dependent on someone else and not always having access to a vehicle when it is needed.

“Any carpool probably wouldn’t work out with my schedule,� Kolbe Vuong, a graduate student in a credentialed teaching program, said. Vuong said she needs her car every day to shuttle between school and an elementary school where she teaches.

But Gerardo Garcia, a senior criminology major, said he would consider carpooling if there was a program that worked for him on a regular basis. Garcia said he commutes 45 minutes to school every day from his home in Orosi, a small town outside of Visalia. “I already carpool on certain days when I have night class,� Garcia said. He said he likes any transportation method that saves gas.

One such method for commuters at Fresno State and in the community is Central Valley Rideshare, an agency run by the Council of Fresno County Governments. The agency, which is in partnership with Fresno State, can be accessed at www.valleyrides.com. This Web site operates as a matchmaker for those interested in carpooling or vanpooling around Fresno County. Vanpools are like carpools but contain seven or more people.

Fresno State also offers a carpool matching service of its own, in collaboration with the city̢۪s Valley rides program, said Amy Armstrong, public information officer for the campus police, in an e-mail. After students and faculty sign up for this service either through the Valley rides Web site or the Fresno State Web site, a database is searched for a compatible commute partner based on the information provided.

“You can register and find a carpool partner who lives in your area and travels to the same or close to the same destination that you do,� Armstrong said. The new participant is then responsible for contacting potential carpool partners and creating a workable plan.

Carpool parking is available for Fresno State students in the green section of Lot E south of the Madden Library, Armstrong said.
This area is reserved for student carpoolers between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Rideshare permit forms can be downloaded the from the University Police department Web site. Armstrong said about 140 such permits are issued each semester, which she estimates makes for about 300 total students in the program, since one permit is issued per vehicle. She said the carpool program is funded from traffic fines.

But despite fluctuating gas prices and the daily shuffle to find a parking spot before the start of class among an ever-increasing volume of vehicles on campus, there is little evidence that carpooling has increased in popularity.

Recent traffic studies show only about seven percent of U.S. commuters carpool daily. That percentage has continually decreased over the years as more commuters own a vehicle.

But Brenda Lauchner, planning coordinator for Valley Rides, said she is hopeful for the future, despite important drawbacks like a lack of funding for advertising. She said the number of participants in the rideshare carpool and vanpool programs is steadily rising.

Lauchner said the services offered under the rideshare program will likely change as a result of Measure C, the Central Valley transportation bond that was reauthorized last year with new programs attached.

“The original Measure C allotted 75 percent for highways and 25 percent for local needs,� Lauchner said. “Local needs� were decided by each municipality, Lauchner said, and virtually no money was ever set aside for public transit.

But under the new version of Measure C, nearly $10 million is specifically dedicated toward carpool and vanpool programs in the Valley over the 20-year life of the bond, Lauchner said.

Lauchner said her agency and other state agencies are still trying to define the public transit programs authorized by Measure C and what type of funding for what projects will ultimately be approved.

“Subcommittees will go through the nuts and bolts and put forth the actual programs,� Lauchner said. That could include funding for new carpool and vanpool lanes, advertising, more designated parking areas or various incentives, Lauchner said.

“With a new stable funding source, we’re hopeful of a greater response from the community,� Lauchner said.