Oct. 17, 2008
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Sharing the road: Carpooling saves staff money and forges friendshipsA few months ago, they were strangers. Today, they are friends who are saving significant amounts of money and have turned the monotony of traveling to and from work into a pleasant experience. Robin Diaz and Meredith Sherry, both UPMC employees in Oakland, became commuting partners after posting information on the UPMC carpool bulletin board available on Infonet and discovering they live just a mile away from each other in Plum, a community in eastern Allegheny County. Since July, they have been sharing the driving duties to and from Oakland. “It’s going really well,” says Ms. Sherry, a senior financial analyst in the Department of Surgery, Physician Services Division. “It’s nice to have someone to ride to work with, and it saves a lot of money.” Ms. Sherry and Ms. Diaz alternate the driving. Each drives her own vehicle for a one-week period. They split the cost of a monthly lease at UPMC’s East Lot and a debit card good for 10 parks at Towerview, which is necessary because Ms. Sherry occasionally works a shift that extends into the evening. Both staff members are impressed with the money they are saving. Ms. Sherry, who drives a sport utility vehicle, estimates she is saving about $300 a month in fuel and parking expenses. |
Ms. Diaz, administrative supervisor, Parking and Security, reports she has cut her commuting expenses in half. “That’s enough to cover my monthly electric bill,” she says.
The camaraderie they enjoy during their commutes is another benefit. “It’s nice having someone to talk to, and the trips don’t seem to take as long,” says Ms. Diaz.
One essential element that has enabled this carpool to work was the willingness of Cynthia Winkles, controller, Department of Surgery, Physician Service Division, to provide some flexibility in Ms. Sherry’s work schedule. Ms. Winkles gave the green light so Ms. Sherry could adjust her normal work schedule to match the hours worked by Ms. Diaz.
“It was a good way to help an excellent staff member, while doing a small part to save fuel, reduce pollution, and ease congestion on our roads,” says Ms. Winkles.
The popularity of carpooling is growing. Just a few weeks ago, Ms. Sherry and Ms. Diaz were joined by a third carpooler, Kathy Mentzer, also a Plum resident and an ophthalmic technician at Eye & Ear Institute. | Looking for a carpool partner?Visit the carpool bulletin board on Infonet. |