Carpools

Faculty, staff and students who live off campus can participate in the carpool program. Undergraduates and Extension students must join during the first six weeks of the quarter.

Incentives

• Save time: Carpools can use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.
• Save money: Share the cost of an annual permit and gas.
• Park in reserved carpool spaces based on your permit type, e.g., S permit in S Carpool only, B permit in B or S Carpool and A permit in A, B or S Carpool:
  • 3+ Person Reserved
    • Receive a reserved carpool space access sticker when you have 3 or more registered carpool members.
    • Carpool space access requires that 3 or more members carpool on the day of use.
  • 2+ Person Reserved
    • Receive a 2-Person Carpool access pass for use in 7-9 a.m. limited reserved S parking spaces near ramps in Osler and Hopkins Parking Structures.
    • The 2-Person Carpool space access requires that 2 or more members carpool on the day of use.
• Park free when necessary: Faculty, staff and graduate student riders may receive a complimentary 10-Day permit each quarter.
• 3+ person carpools park free in campus valet lots: A and B permit holders in a registered UC San Diego carpool with 3+ members can valet park for free with a current Carpool Sticker on the permit.
• Get guaranteed rides home: Register in advance for SANDAG’s Guaranteed Ride Home program that provides rides for employees in case of illness, unscheduled overtime or family emergencies.
• Drive shared vehicles: Pay no Zipcar application fee and receive rental credits (when you meet UC San Diego eligibility requirements).

How to Form a Carpool

1. Use UC San Diego’s Zimride Ridesharing Network or personal networking to find other UC San Diego faculty, staff and students who want to carpool. Each carpool:
   • Consists of 2‒4 eligible members committed to carpooling daily; proof of appropriately sized vehicle(s) required for larger groups
   • Must purchase and share a single valid multiyear, annual or student quarterly parking permit
   • Has a primary driver, but members can share driving responsibilities (Note: Vehicles owned by freshmen may not be listed as permit users unless they have received an approved quarterly permit exception.)
2. Register your carpool at a parking office to receive incentives; registration is free. (Undergraduates are not eligible for incentive parking permits).
   • The faculty or staff permit owner registers as the primary driver.
     • All new employee carpoolers must register together in person with a valid UC San Diego photo ID card at the Gilman, Osler or Athena parking office.
     • Once the required number of carpoolers are registered (2 or 3+), Commute Solutions will issue a carpool permit sticker/placard to the permit owner who must present his/her parking permit for verification.
   • The student permit owner registers as the primary driver and all carpool members must come to the office together with the primary driver to register the carpool. Class/Work schedules must show three weekdays compatibility (no specific hours required). 
   • For reserved carpool space access:
   • • At least three members must register as regular carpoolers to receive a carpool sticker.
     • At least two members must register as regular carpoolers to receive a 2-Person Carpool placard.
3. Eligible faculty, staff and graduate students members receive quarterly incentive parking permits.

Questions?

Contact Commute Solutions.