Will Carpooling Work in My Organisation?

The Technology Does Not Create Behaviour Change 

A carpooling scheme can be technically live while being almost completely unused. A common pattern is an initial burst of sign-ups followed by a plateau after four to six weeks. Without continued promotion, tangible motivation or enough potential matches, employees can lose momentum before they reach the point of sharing. 

Across the sectors we work in, fewer than 2% of employees start carpooling spontaneously.

Finlay Johnson

Strategic Partnerships Director, Mobilityways

That figure is not a measure of willingness. It shows what happens when a platform is made available without the wider support needed to change behaviour. 

Fuel savings can attract attention, but they rarely provide enough motivation on their own. Time, convenience and finding a suitable match all influence whether someone moves from interest to action.

Choose the Model Before Choosing the Platform 

The right delivery model depends on three questions:

1. Should matching be formal or informal?
2. Should the network be open or closed?
3. Is carpooling a company benefit or a targeted intervention? 

These choices lead to four broad approaches, from an informal in-house arrangement through to a strategic partnership combining technology with specialist support. The right choice depends on the organisation’s size, complexity and what the scheme needs to achieve. 

The key is to establish the organisational need before choosing a platform. A mismatch between the delivery model and the problem being solved can undermine an otherwise capable programme. 

Data Turns Potential Into a Defensible Target 

Understanding what could happen is only the starting point. Postcode analysis can identify potentially viable matches, while staff surveys reveal willingness and the conditions that could encourage participation.

On average, 45% of people responding to Mobilityways travel surveys said something would encourage them to car share with a colleague.

Freddie Lackford

Consultant Commutologist, Mobilityways

Together, these insights provide a more credible basis for setting targets than simply assuming a percentage of employees will participate.

Ownership Determines Whether It Lasts 

Carpooling is more likely to succeed when responsibility does not sit with one isolated team. A manufacturing organisation discussed in the session saw stronger results when HR and sustainability worked together, connecting accessibility and employee benefits with Scope 3 emissions goals.

The question is therefore not simply whether employees will carpool. It is whether the organisation has chosen the right model, understands what employees need and has the ownership to sustain the behaviour. 

Top Audience Questions