What is a vanpool?
Caravan by DART vanpools are a group of 5 to 12 people who share the ride to work, at least 30 miles roundtrip, in a clean, comfortable DART-owned van. One person volunteers to be the driver of the van and rides for free. Passengers pay a monthly fare for gas, insurance and maintenance for the van.
Who uses Caravan by DART?
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Hundreds of smart commuters who live and work in Central Iowa. |
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Commuters with a relatively consistent work schedule. |
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Commuters who want to save money, time, sanity and the air. |
Why use Caravan by DART?
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Save money. Caravan-ers can save over $1,500 dollars annually* in gas, insurance, maintenance, depreciation and parking costs. Take home more. Check with your employer to see if you're offered a commuter benefit account or subsidy for vanpooling. Money put into a commuter benefit can be used to pay for Caravan by DART services and lowers the amount you'll owe in taxes each year. |
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Gain more "me" time. Caravan by DART vanpoolers catch up on work, read, chat, sleep or otherwise relax during their commute. |
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Reduce stress. Vanpoolers who don’t navigate rush hour traffic, congestion, construction and delays by themselves are happier, healthier, more productive individuals. |
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Save your car. Riders use their car less, reducing wear and tear, and often extending its life. Drivers also receive 150-200 personal use miles of the van each month. |
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Enhance sustainability. One Caravan by DART vanpool removes as many as 11 vehicles and their emissions from the road each day. That’s good for the environment – and you! |
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Guaranteed ride home. In case of an emergency, Carvan by DART will help coordinate a ride home for you via taxi OR reimburse you up to $60 up to three times per year. |
*As of Nov. 2024, based on average costs (gas, maintenance, vehicle depreciation per mile) on a 50 mile round-trip commute to work in a vehicle with avg. highway fuel economy of 27mpg.
How to Join
Find a vanpool, or sign up for alerts once one is available, by filling out the contact form on this page or contacting Caravan's Service Team directly:
Phone: 515-288-7433
Email: caravan@ridedart.com.