SchoolPool

A little help for busy parents. SchoolPool is the iCommute free ridematching service for parents of children who attend the same school. With this safe and secure service, you are matched with other parents in your neighborhood who are interested in sharing the driving responsibilities or would like to have their kids bike or walk to school with other students and a parent leader. SchoolPool is available regionwide.

Research has shown that when students carpool, their school attendance and timeliness improve. Carpooling, walking, or biking to school also reduces traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions in school zones, promoting safety at your school while helping the environment. See if your school is participating in SchoolPool.

SchoolPool matches for carpooling, biking, and walking

Carpooling helps busy parents share the responsibility of getting the kids to school, as well as reducing expenses for gas and car maintenance. In addition, to help promote physical activity and healthier lifestyles for students, SchoolPool encourages bicycling and walking. Bike buddies or walking school buses are groups of students who ride or walk to school together with adult/parent leaders. The Safe Routes to School program provides a guide for bike and pedestrian safety skills for children to help educate everyone on safe ways to get to school. For some parents, having their children take public transit to school is a good option. All San Diego transit operators allow for bicycles on board, and walking children to transit stops can lead to a healthier start to your child’s school day.

SchoolPool enrollment is open for school administrators

Enroll your school in SchoolPool for the 2012-2013 school year today. iCommute will provide marketing materials, incentives for students, and monthly drawings for parents who log their child’s(ren’s) trips in TripTracker. Only school administrators and transportation officials may register their schools for this campaign. If you are an interested parent, please encourage your school to register.

For the 2013-14 school year, iCommute will again promoting active trips to school such as walking, biking, or riding a scooter or skateboard. Students also can carpool to school. Check back for more information on this year’s Walk, Ride, and Roll to School Challenge.  

Starting your own SchoolPool is as easy as ABC!

The SchoolPool program is open to students in all public and private elementary, middle, and high schools within San Diego County. Participation is voluntary.

A. Contact your child’s school, ask for the transportation coordinator, and tell them you are interested in participating in the SchoolPool commuter program.

B. If your child’s school does not have a commuter program, ask them to contact SchoolPool -- call 511 and say “SchoolPool” to reach a customer service representative. We will help set up a free, safe, and secure network at the school. Or, a school administrator can register your child’s school online.

C. Once your school’s network has been created, parents just need to sign up for an account. Then log in, find matches for carpooling, biking, or walking and you’re ready to roll!

For more information, call 511 and say “SchoolPool” or email schoolpool@sandag.org.