RideShare Line:
816/842-RIDE (7433)

©
Mid-America Regional Council
600 Broadway, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64105
Phone: 816/474-4240
Fax: 816/421-7758

Privacy Policy/Terms of Use


Commuter Profile

James Dermody, Casey Wallace, Dwight VogtNames: James Dermody, Casey Wallace and Dwight Vogt

Work at: Various companies in Coverland Park

Live in: Lawrence, Kan.

Commute mode: Carpool

Their story: For Casey Wallace, Dwight Vogt and James Dermody, making their carpool work hinges on flexibility. The three Lawrence residents met via the Carpool Connection web site shortly after it launched in June 2006. Dwight and James began carpooling first, and then Casey joined them.

They did not know each other beforehand, although Dwight and James later learned that they live a block apart. All work for different employers along College Boulevard in Overland Park.

How they make it work: Flexibility plays a part in a number of ways. First, they don’t keep a strict driving schedule, but prefer to take turns driving throughout the week. They don’t require everyone to carpool every day, only when it fits in their schedule. So, when someone has a late meeting, an out-of-town trip or a night class, he or she can skip carpooling a day or two and resume when it’s convenient.
“We’re all very flexible towards each other,” James says. “Nobody gets upset if somebody can’t carpool.”

Casey, the only female in the carpool, felt comfortable enough with the arrangement to join the carpool after talking on the phone with Dwight. Although some people gave her a hard time for commuting with two men she had not met before, Casey says she felt assured by the businesslike tone Dwight had on the phone.

Casey knows this approach may not work for all women, and for them she says, “If someone’s uncomfortable, then just meet them (the carpool matches) first.” (For the record, the RideShare Program recommends an in-person meeting before starting up or joining a carpool.)

Best thing about carpooling: Dwight, Casey and James all agree that having three people in the carpool is an advantage. It affords them the flexibility to keep the carpool going every day even if one person can’t do it. Plus, they enjoy the conversation during the 30-minute commute.

Biggest drawback: The biggest drawback to carpooling is giving up the independence of having a vehicle available. “I like having a car at lunch,” Dwight says. But, the benefits of saving money and wear and tear on his pickup make carpooling an attractive commute option. His advice for those new to carpooling is to “realize you have to make some sacrifices, but it’s worth it.”

For prospective carpoolers: Casey offers this advice: “Just try it. Just give it a week and see how it goes. It’s not a commitment you have to make for the rest of your life.”

James, who previously participated in a vanpool while working in Topeka, can’t think of a good reason he would go back to driving alone.

“When you’re sitting in traffic with three people in the car, you can feel good that there are two less vehicles causing this traffic jam,” he says.


MORE PROFILES