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Frequently Asked Questions
GO MAINE has been answering these for years. Here are some of the most common. Please call us at 1.800.280.RIDE or e-mail us if you don’t find what you’re looking for.
- How does GO MAINE work?
- Could anyone have a schedule as crazy as mine?
- Is there a carpool in my area?
- Is there a vanpool in my area?
- What is my commitment once I sign up?
- What is a carpool and how does it work?
- What is a vanpool and how does that work?
- What is transit?
- Are there other transportation options besides carpooling?
WHAT IF…
- I am reluctant to carpool with a complete stranger?
- I need a car for personal appointments or errands?
- I need to leave work quickly due to an emergency at home or school?
- I need my car during the day?
- I’m sick or overslept?
- I work on second or third shift?
- I take my child to daycare?
GO MAINE is a statewide commuter information network that connects with the transportation options that will work best for them. When you register with GO MAINE your commuting information is entered into a database that searches for the right commuting option for you, as well as for other commuters with similar commute patterns. That’s how we create a “match” for carpools and vanpools.
Could anyone have a schedule as crazy as mine?
Believe it or not, yes! However, persons with irregular schedules are better candidates for carpools than for vanpools. Even if there is just one day a week where you work a predictable schedule, carpool on that day. Also, many people work flexible hours and you may find someone in a similar position to your own. We’ll do our best to find a match for you.
Is there a carpool in my area?
When you register with GO MAINE, you’ll be included in a database of thousands of interested carpoolers. You’ll receive a “matchlist” with the names and contact information of those persons who match your commute pattern (home addresses are never included on the matchlists and home numbers may be excluded as well.) Just contact the names on that list and make your carpool arrangements.
Is there a vanpool in my area?
There are currently nine GO MAINE vanpools operating between the Portland and Lewiston areas and Augusta. One of them might work for you. There many other private vanpools serving other Maine worksites. Contact us to find out more. Maybe we can start a new vanpool route for your business!
What is my commitment when I register with GO MAINE?
GO MAINE is your “one-stop shopping resource” to alternative modes of transportation. We want to give you as much information as possible to make informed decisions about your daily commute. Asking for this information by contacting and/or registering with GO MAINE in no way obligates you to use alternate modes of transportation (although we think you will be mighty tempted.) When you do join a carpool or vanpool, you and the other members will decide how often you feel comfortable sharing the ride, among other details. We’ve got an etiquette guide here. And, of course, if you are a bicyclist or walker, the commitment is entirely up to you.
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A carpool is two or more commuters sharing a ride in one of their own vehicles. The best carpooling arrangements are very flexible. In fact, you don’t need to carpool every day, just as often as your schedule allows. This gives you the freedom to plan errands or appointments on days when you aren’t carpooling.
A vanpool involves more people and uses a van owned by a business, a municipality, or other organization such as the Maine Department of Transportation. Vanpools work similarly to a carpool, with riders sharing the costs of operating the van, usually through a monthly fee.
Carpoolers can either share driving and expenses or one person may drive most or all of the time, in which case the passenger shares operating expenses with the driver.
Transit is any public transportation system designed to move large numbers of passengers. It includes local service (like The Bus in Bangor or Metro in Portland) and inter-city bus service (like Concord Trailways or Vermont Transit), ferries (like the Maine State Ferry Service and Casco Bay Ferries), and passenger rail (Amtrak from Portland to Boston).
Are there other transportation options besides carpooling?
Quite possibly. GO MAINE can help you with information on other available transportation choices. We’ve got the information you need to make your commute easier. We can help you with local and inter-city bus, ferries, Amtrak rail service, bicycling and walking routes, telecommuting, Park & Ride lots, and more.
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WHAT IF…
I’m reluctant to carpool with a complete stranger?
Meet over coffee in a neutral location to discuss carpool arrangements. If you’re uncomfortable, decline the offer to carpool.
I need my car for personal appointments or errands?
Plan these trips on certain days, letting your fellow rider(s) know, and carpool on the other days.
I need to leave work quickly due to an emergency at home or school?
Use the Emergency Ride Home Guarantee to take a taxi or rental car home and we’ll reimburse you – no strings attached and no need to worry.
Be the designated driver of your carpool and drive your car everyday. Share the expenses with your rider(s), and you’ve cut your commuting costs in half.
Call the driver of your vanpool or carpool, or the person before you on the pick-up route and let them know. Then invest in a louder alarm clock.
I work on second or third shift?
Lots of people work on second or third shifts so GO MAINE’s commuting options may still work for you. We have workers from all shifts and schedules in our commuter database.
Meet your carpool partner(s) at the daycare center or some other convenient location like a Park & Ride lot after you drop off your child
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GO MAINE is a program of the Greater Portland Council of Governments. Sponsored by the MaineDOT and Maine Turnpike Authority. © 2010 Go Maine. All rights reserved.