Carpooling

In support of the University’s sustainability, well‑being, and affordability goals, Sustainable Transportation encourages and supports carpooling. Benefits and incentives include: 

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts caused by vehicular travel 

  • Increase your social circle and make connections by meeting coworkers that live near you 

  • Reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality 

  • Save money by sharing the gas bill and parking costs  

  • Access the TravelWise Emergency Ride Home program 

  • For registered carpool groups, gain access to preferential parking 

  • For registered carpool groups, access discounted daily parking passes for days you need to drive solo 

Emergency Ride Home program 

Any Waterloo employee who carpools (or uses any sustainable transportation mode) is eligible for the Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program through TravelWise at the Region of Waterloo. If you have an unforeseen emergency on any day you carpool to work, you can request reimbursement of up to $75 per trip for your transportation costs, to a maximum of four trips per year. Pre-registration for that day’s emergency transportation is not required. 

Preferential parking 

Formal registered carpool groups can choose their preferred parking lot, subject to approval, and will receive a permit for that lot. 

Discounted daily passes for days you cannot carpool

If a member of a formal registered carpool is occasionally unable to carpool, they may obtain a discounted daily parking pass from Sustainable Transportation, up to 20 times per calendar year. 

Formal carpool group

Eligibility criteria 

To be eligible for a formal registered carpool, the following criteria applies: 

  • Each carpool member must be an employee of the University of Waterloo.   

  • Each carpool must have at least two active members. Members must either live at different addresses, or, if they share the same address, turn in two parking permits. 

  • Each member of a carpool must work a common shift. 

  • Members must commit to carpooling for a minimum of three consecutive months.   

  • No member may be registered in more than one carpool group at a time. 

Application and registration process 

Each formal carpool group must designate a “carpool captain”. Once the group confirms they meet the eligibility criteria, the carpool captain may apply for a carpool permit using the online carpool application.

Sustainable Transportation will review applications and notify the carpool captain of the decision within 10 business days. An approved group will be recognized as a formal registered carpool group. 

The carpool captain must submit their top three preferred parking lots to Sustainable Transportation for consideration. 

Find out more by reading the Carpool Regulation.

Carpool matching and more with TravelWise 

These services from TravelWise are currently being updated. Check back for updates.