Find rides when you need them and share the cost of driving - that's the reason why carpool apps are becoming so popular with commuters.

The Bay Area is fortunate to have lots of carpool app providers. Each one is slightly different, so we recommend that you do some homework before signing up for one or more services.

511 has developed a list of recommended carpool app providers, so you can get started by checking out their recommendations here.

For commuters that want to join or form a more traditional carpool, there are several matchlist databases to help.

Matchlist databases provide contact information and commute schedules of people who share similar commutes.

Many employers have staff who will help you find matches - check with your HR or Employee Transportation Team.

Getting your whole office to register on the same matchlist database increases the chance of finding coworkers for carpool partners.

Casual carpooling is a convenient and engaging way to commute to and from certain parts of the Bay Area. On weekday mornings, people meet as either drivers or passengers at designated locations in the East Bay and travel to downtown San Francisco. Casual carpooling allows cars with three or more people going westbound on the Bay Bridge in the morning to take advantage of the high occupancy vehicle lanes, save time at the toll plaza and get the double bonus of a reduced bridge toll.

Vanpooling is convenient and economical, especially if your employees travel long distances to go to your work location. Traditionally, vanpools have 7-15 passengers, including the driver. The vehicle may be owned or leased.

511 coordinates vanpools in the Bay Area and offers a variety of free services and rewards to start or join a vanpool. Their vanpool consultants are committed to keeping vanpools full and on the road with empty-seat subsidies.

Benefits of Vanpooling:

For more information on the 511 Vanpool Program, please click here.

For more information on the Commute.org Vanpool Incentives, please click here.