Our VA vanpool started six years ago. Five brave souls willing to try giving up the independence of our personal vehicles and share a ride with strangers, in an effort to save money. Word spread through the VA hospital where we worked and our eight passenger van was soon full.
We started an alternate rider list, calling the alternates when one of the regular riders was on vacation or sick leave. The waiting list grew and our vanpool separated into two vanpools. Over the next six years our vanpool was responsible for helping to start six other vanpools through word of mouth. The original three vanpools at our VA has expanded to 22 and is growing.
We commute 40 miles each way to Tampa, FL and save a significant amount of money monthly for the cost of gas, wear and tear on our vehicles, and lower insurance rates. We now have no parking issues, with curbside drop off and pick-up, which is really wonderful during inclement weather. We enjoy stimulating conversations, and networking that helps us keep up with the hospital news, job openings, and changes.
It has been a lifesaver for several of our riders in the past. Due to injuries, they were unable to drive themselves to work, so they were very thankful to have the vanpool. We also have time to sleep (several riders have their blankets and pillows stored under their seats), read (we trade newspapers, magazines, and books when we’re finished reading them), talk on our cell phones or listen to iPods. The commuting time doesn’t seem wasted when we don’t have to focus on the traffic and can enjoy our personal time in the van.
We have seen so many people come and go through job changes, moves and retirements. We’ve made many friends through the years that we would otherwise never have met. We’ve shared happy events and sad news with each other. We help solve problems and share ideas. We are there to be a sounding board after a frustrating day. What is said in the van, stays in the van. We have become a family for the one hour trip each way.
Cheryl Tyler
Information Security Officer
James A. Haley Veterans Medical Center
Tags: benefits of vanpooling, Cheryl Tyler, Information Security Officer, James A. Haley, Medical Center, VA, Vanpool, Veterans Affairs
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Your blog says you operate in 40 states. It would be very helpful if you would post on this site a list of metropolitan/regional areas where you operate, with contact information which people interested in your services can use to access the services in a particular area.
Hi Connie -Thanks for the note and for visiting the site. To see a map of VPSI vanpooling office locations, visit here: http://www.van-pools.com/locations/. If you have any questions about a particular location, please feel free to reach out to Chris Hooper (Chris [dot] hooper [at] vpsiinc [dot] com).
What a great group this has been to ride with, and much of the credit goes to Cheryl!
I used to ride in Tampa, are you planning to start one near Montgomery, Al?
While we don’t currently have any VA vanpools running in Montongomery, Alabama, I¹d love to help you start one up! Please contact me at 770-590-8651 extention 6106, or send an e-mail to: allen [dot] feather [at] vpsiinc [dot] com.