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Frequently Asked Questions
The Basics
Carpool Logistics
Contingencies
Other Questions
Q: What is BoilerRide?
A: BoilerRide is the name of Transportation Service's website that provides access to GreenRide, a carpooling and ride-matching application that the University has contracted for use by faculty, staff, and students.
The BoilerRide website provides a portal to the GreenRide web application, which is operated by Ecology and Environment, Inc. Purdue does not manage or oversee GreenRide.
If you choose to pursue carpooling through GreenRide, you are solely responsible for any agreements and arrangements that you make using the GreenRide service. As with any carpooling, use common sense precautions to ensure safety and welfare for yourself and your fellow riders. For tips on using the GreenRide application (should include safety) and successful carpools (should include carpool etiquette) see the Safety Tips and Carpool Etiquette page.
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Q: What are the benefits of carpooling?
A: Carpools help save on transportation costs and can reduce wear and tear on your vehicle. In addition, by reducing the number of vehicles on the road, carpools help improve air quality, conserve energy, reduce campus traffic, and reduce demand for campus parking.
Two individuals carpooling together represent a 50 percent cost savings to each, while four individuals can each save 75 percent.
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Q: How can I find a carpool?
A: The BoilerRide website (http://www.purdue.edu/transportation/boilerride.htm) links users to the web-based GreenRide ride-match application to help identify other faculty, staff, or students interested in starting or joining a carpool.
- To use the GreenRide application go to http://purdue.greenride.com/.
- First, login to the GreenRide application using your Purdue Career Account.
- Next, create a GreenRide profile and indicate your starting location, destination, and personal preferences.
- GreenRide then allows you to search for other carpool members based upon locations, schedules, and lifestyle preferences.
- If you are matched with other interested carpoolers, your personal information will remain anonymous until you decide to contact each other to form a group.
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Q: Who is eligible to use the GreenRide application?
A: To use the GreenRide application you must have a Purdue career account and access to a computer with an internet connection. Computers are available to the public at:
Tippecanoe County Public Library
627 South St.
Lafayette, IN 47901
Klondike Branch Library
3062 Lindberg Road
West Lafayette, IN 47906
West Lafayette Public Library
208 W. Columbia
West Lafayette, IN 47906
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Q: How long will my user profile be active in the GreenRide application?
A: Individuals who have established a profile, but not logged on for 30 days will receive an email notification. If the individual still has not logged on after an additional 30 days, their profile will be purged. You can rejoin if this happens by creating a new account.
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Q: When I click on the Accept button to gain access to the Purdue GreenRide carpooling and event matching system, what information may be displayed to others who are using it?
A: By clicking the Accept button, your name, PUID, Purdue email address, gender, and faculty/staff or student designation are being passed to the system and may be displayed to others who are using the Purdue GreenRide carpooling and event matching system.
Q: Who does the driving?
A: In some carpools, each carpool member takes a turn driving their own vehicle, rotating daily, weekly, or monthly; in others, there is only one driver. When drivers rotate it is important to develop a schedule and communicate clearly, including what to do if the driver is sick or needs to change the schedule. The GreenRide application will allow you to set up your profile to be a driver or passenger only, or to share the driving duties.
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Q: What if I don't have a car?
A: Not all carpool members desire to be drivers and some may not have access to a car. The GreenRide application will allow you to set up your profile to be a passenger only, or a passenger on some days and a driver on other days.
If needed, agree in advance on reimbursement for driving expenses.
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Q: I don't have a car or I'm riding with somebody else. Do I have to share driving responsibilities?
That depends. Work with those in your carpool to discuss how driving will be shared. In some cases, passengers can just ride along and reimburse the driver for expenses. For longer trips, if may make more sense to switch off driving. The GreenRide application will allow you to set up your profile to be a driver or passenger only, or to share the driving duties. Whatever you choose, make sure your carpool has a clear understanding of what is expected of them and how costs and/or driving will be split.
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Q: Do I have to carpool every day?
A: No. A carpool can be set up for a full, partial, or one day a week. You may even belong to multiple carpools, depending on work schedules.
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Q: I live on campus and don't have a daily commute. Can I still use GreenRide?
Yes. You can set up what is called a "Special Event" in the GreenRide system. A special event is a one-time only occurrence. Examples of this would be going home for university holidays, going to the airport before Spring Break, etc. Just enter your leave date/time and destination, and GreenRide looks for matches.
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Q: I get out of classes early two days out of the week. Do I have to come to and leave campus at the same time every day?
No. You can specify what time you are coming to campus or leaving for each day. Once logged in and on My Page, go down to Commute Days and click Edit. Once in Carpool Preferences, select the Advanced tab. There you can enter start times and return times for individual days. You can also set what days you will come to campus and what days you will not.
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Q: I have multiple commutes the same day. Can GreenRide find me rides or riders for multiple commutes?
No. You can only set up one commute per day. However, after finding rides or riders for one commute, you can clear your commute data and enter information for your second commute. Do this for as many multiple commutes you have in a week. However, once you clear your commute data, you will not be matched for additional riders for your original commute.
Instead of leaving campus and coming back later in the day, consider staying on campus to study, excercise, etc.
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Q: What if potential matches for my carpool start or end their work day at a time different than my own?
A: You and your potential matches may be able to work with your supervisors to establish a flexible work schedule to modify start and end times. See http://www.purdue.edu/hr/WorkLife/flexwork.html for more information on setting up a Flexible Work Schedule. If business requirements won't allow carpool members to adjust their schedules, consider staying on campus a bit earlier or later each day to use the Libraries, Co-Rec, PMU, view the Purdue galleries, or to take a walk on campus.
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Q: What happens if I am sick or I need to stay home with a family member?
A: When joining a carpool, discuss with your carpool group what to do when you are sick, will be on vacation, or have another emergency. Try to give as much advance warning as possible for any schedule changes.
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Q: What happens if I oversleep or am late?
A: When joining a carpool, discuss with your carpool group what to do when individuals are late. Agree upon an acceptable amount of time to wait . If you are the driver, realize others are depending upon you. If you are a rider, don't expect others to wait for you. Reliability is important for a carpool to succeed.
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Q: What if I have to work late?
A: If you know you have to be on campus and work late on a particular day, don't carpool that day. Take a bus, walk, bike, or drive your own car. Remember to notify your carpool group that your schedule has changed.
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Q: What if I have to go to meetings during the day?
A: Consider taking the bus, walking, or carpooling with others who plan to attend the same meeting. A campus bus schedule is available at http://www.gocitybus.com.
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Q: What if I have an emergency and have to leave early?
A: When joining a carpool, discuss with your carpool group what to do when individuals have an emergency or need to leave early. It may be possible for a family member or co-worker to help, to use another means of transportation, or to find another carpool through the BoilerRide application. See our list of alternative transportation options.
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Q: What if my carpool isn't working out?
A: You may want to give your carpool a few weeks to get going. However, if it isn't working out, you are under no obligation to continue - try again with another carpool. When you first set up or join a carpool, it's a good idea to agree to check back with the other group members in 30 days to see if is working or if there is anything you would like to discuss further.
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Q: What is the impact on my auto insurance?
A: Participation in a carpool does not void automobile liability insurance as a "public or livery conveyance" provided the pool is not operated for a profit. When members of the car pool rotate use their respective cars or refuse payments for expenses, clearly no money has changed hands. Payments exchanged in "shared expense carpools" must be limited to a fair share of the actual cost of vehicle use and not include profit for the car owner. Consult your auto insurance provider to discuss carpool mileage discounts, shared expense carpools, and your insurance coverage.
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Q: If I have questions on BoilerRide commute options, carpooling, or using the GreenRide application, whom should I contact?
A: Faculty and staff may submit questions to BoilerRide@purdue.edu or contact Transportation Service at 494-2112.
Students may submit questions to vpss@purdue.edu. Reports of abuse or misuse of Purdue's information technology resources should be made to abuse@purdue.edu. See http://www.purdue.edu/securepurdue/help/view.cfm?KBTopicID=202 for additional information.
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Q: Will the University offer parking discounts or other carpool incentives in the future?
A: Other colleges and universities with established carpool programs offer carpool permits with reduced parking fees, preferential parking spots, Guaranteed Ride Home, and other incentives. In the future, Parking Facilities and Transportation Services will be looking at what incentives might be available at Purdue.
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