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The Fight Against Traffic Continues

The Waze Community is powerful. We map the world. We solve local issues. We power cities. We outsmart traffic. And now, we’re banding together to end traffic.

And Waze Carpool is how we’re going to do it.

On the back of thriving pilots in the San Francisco Bay Area and across Israel, we’re excited to continue the progress we’ve made and the lessons we’ve learned to bring Waze Carpool to life across California. That’s right Wazers of California, on June 6th, we ride together!

No longer will Californians be held captive by their horrific commute. Join us in working together to fight daily traffic, improve our commute, help protect the environment, and save a little money. Download our apps to drive or ride (search “Waze” in your app store) and join the revolution. It’s time for all of us to get unstuck in traffic!

Read on for our full Waze Carpool declaration, as appeared in today’s LA Times.

The Fight Against Traffic

Brave Wazers of the World, we hold these truths to be self-evident:

Traffic is a global evil. It’s ruining our quality of life. It’s wasting our time, our energy, our wealth, our health, and our environment.

We, the People, got ourselves into this mess. Traffic is us. We are the ones congesting our roads as we drive, all at the same time, by ourselves, surrounded by the empty passenger seats of our cars.

Only we, the People, can get ourselves out of this mess. By banding together and pooling our resources, we can get ourselves where we need to go, faster, cleaner, cheaper — and maybe even have some fun while we’re doing it.

So today, we will not just be driving to work as usual. Today, we begin a new chapter in the worldwide battle against traffic and call on you to help win this fight.

We call it Waze Carpool.

It’s a way for people to help people. A lot of us are going in the same direction, so why don’t we go there together? Waze Carpool simply matches drivers and riders who are going the same way to work or back home, and helps them share the costs.

Let’s put those empty passenger seats to work. Let’s fill them with people, who can then leave their own cars at home. The fewer cars on the road, the better.

Same Waze, new schtick. Waze has always been about people and cities outsmarting traffic, together. With Waze Carpool, we’re coming at the same problem, but from a different angle, now with the goal of ending traffic, altogether.

Fighting traffic is no longer for drivers only. With Waze Carpool, we’re creating a community where drivers and riders help each other out, reduce traffic for everyone else on the road, and share the financial burden of commuting by car.

Everyone should have access to affordable transportation. If you live in an area without public transportation, Waze Carpool can help get you to work and back on time.

We’re not in this alone. We welcome the support of cities, companies and partners that share our vision and want to support our mission. Reach out to us and let’s explore what we can do together.

Wazers of California—June 6, we ride together! Join us in working together to fight daily traffic, improve our commute, help protect the environment and save a little money. Download our apps to drive or ride (search “Waze” in your app store) and join the revolution.

It’s time for all of us to get unstuck in traffic!

The Waze Team

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Your Waze Carpool Questions, Answered: Part 1

Wazers of California, we’ve heard you and we know you have some questions for us about the newly-expanded Waze Carpool. Well, we’ve got answers for you, so buckle up!  

Where is Waze Carpool available?

You can ride or drive using Waze Carpool throughout the state of California and all of Israel.

What is the Waze Carpool app?

The free Waze Carpool app is separate from the Waze app and made specially for the Wazers that prefer riding shotgun to driving. (Yeah, it’s a different app—long story.) Tell it where you live, where you work, and when you go from one to the other, and boom. That’s pretty much it.

How is Waze Carpool different from Waze?

Waze Carpool allows our community to join together to outsmart traffic, matching drivers and riders who are going the same way to work or back home, and helps them share the costs. And the good news is you can be a driver OR a rider depending on your mood. So sleepy Wazers, meet speedy Wazers, and get carpooling!

How do I request using Waze Carpool?

If you’re ready to ride shotgun, open the Waze Carpool app, make sure your home and work addresses are set, and request a ride for the day and time you would like. We recommend requesting a ride via Waze Carpool a day or two ahead of time, as commuters are connected by routine and similar existing routes.

How often can I pick up riders?

To make a positive impact on rush hour traffic, drivers are only permitted to pick up riders via Waze Carpool twice a day.

How often can I use Waze Carpool a day?

Riders are welcome to use Waze Carpool as much as they’d like! There are no daily limits on the Waze Carpool app.

Where can I get started?

If you’re ready to join the Carpool revolution and want to go for a ride, download the free Waze Carpool app in the iOS or Android app stores. If you’re looking for even more information, check out the Carpool site.

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Your Waze Carpool Questions, Answered: Part 2

Wazers of California, we’ve got *even more* answers to your questions about the newly-expanded Waze Carpool. So read on and get ready to Carpool.

How much does this all cost?

Waze Carpool lets riders and drivers share the cost of driving. Riders pay up to the IRS-determined rate for the cost of driving, $0.54 per mile, which covers both the cost of gas and the wear and tear on a vehicle. It’s impossible to make money driving for Waze Carpool. Instead, it’s a way for drivers to get back some gas money.

Can drivers pick-up and drop off riders anywhere?

Riders may set their willingness to walk (in minutes) within Waze Carpool. If they choose to not walk at all, they will be picked up and dropped off at their exact locations. However, Wazers that are willing to walk are more likely to get matched, since they often require smaller detours from the drivers. It also gives them more flexibility. As a driver matches with multiple riders, the driver will still make only one pickup and one drop off for all riders in the Carpool.

Is this safe?

To participate in Waze Carpool, riders must submit a real name, phone number, and email address. They may also choose to connect their Facebook account.

Drivers can choose only to pick up their coworkers/previous ride matches, or use the verification for greater reassurance that the rider is who they say they are. They may also message in-app prior to the ride. Drivers also have a 5-star rating system from previous riders.

As either a rider or driver, you also always have the power to decline a match.

Will I be able to see who’s joining me on the ride? And their rating?

Yes, once a new rider joins, drivers get an update via push notification that will direct them to the details, including information on the additional rider: name, profile picture, number of rides taken with Waze Carpool, rating, work email, and (if linked) their Facebook profile.

As a driver, how do I Carpool with more people?

Drivers can define, in Settings, how many seats they’re willing to fill. Waze Carpool will match them with 1 or more riders on their route. All riders that join will share their pickup and drop off spots. Read: no added stops, more Carpool friends.

As a driver, you don’t need to accept additional riders, and you can remove any rider from the carpool within the details screen. Each time there is an update to your upcoming ride, you will be notified of every change in number of riders and reimbursement for the ride.

As a rider, how do I Carpool with more people?

After you’ve requested a ride, riders can also scroll through similar rides, if available, and choose to join a ride from the list. Rides displayed  include all relevant details, including cost and pick up/drop off locations. If an additional rider requests to join your Carpool ride, you’ll receive a push notification with details on the additional rider(s). You can also find details on all Carpoolers in your ride in the ride details screen.

Why should I Carpool with more people?

There are many benefits to a Carpool party. More empty seats are put to work, everyone gets to take advantage of 3+ HOV lanes, and there are even fewer cars on the road.

What happens if someone drops out of my Carpool with multiple people?

The rider(s) and driver still participating in the Carpool will receive a push notification about the change.

Can I reconnect with a Waze Carpool rider/driver I’ve had a good experience with?

Yes! The Waze Carpool app allows you to request a ride from a specific driver, and only they will get the notification. Drivers and riders can also message in-app before, during, and after the ride.

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Your Waze Carpool Questions, Answered: Part 3

Wazers of California, read on for the final installment of answers to your most frequently asked Waze Carpool questions.

Why can’t I find a driver?

First, try your request again. Still not working? Try requesting a ride from a more central location within walking distance to you. If you’re still out of luck, it is possible there are no drivers available for your route at the time you’ve requested. Remember, Waze Carpool is still growing and you’re among the first to give us a try and help build the community.

To increase your chances of finding a ride, we suggest making sure your profile is complete and setting a broader pick-up time window.

Why can’t I find a rider?

You’re alerted to ride requests through push notifications, but to avoid sending too many to drivers on popular commutes, some matches are suggested only within the Waze app. So, remember to check your Carpool tab if you’re searching for a rider.

It’s also possible there are no matches for your specified route and time. Waze Carpool is still in early stages. Even if there are no matches right now, we are adding new riders every day and there will be more soon. If your drives are more flexible, you can also expand the hours you’re  available to drive to increase your chances of finding a match.

What happens if a driver or their property is damaged while using Waze Carpool?

Drivers are required to have appropriate insurance cover for all rides, including personal injury protection insurance. Still, accidents happen. We recommend checking your insurance coverage, both as rider or driver, prior to using Waze Carpool.

If I experience an issue, how do I report it?

Within the Waze and Waze Carpool apps, you can provide feedback and/or report a problem. Waze has the ability to take user feedback into consideration to remove poor performers from the platform.

How does Waze Carpool connect riders and drivers?

Waze Carpool connects users from the same local community, they could be the neighbors you haven’t met yet, or the colleagues just starting at your company. Users input their home and work locations in their Waze and/or Waze Carpool apps and we connect the best matches along similar routes using our advanced mapping capabilities.

How does Waze determine a driver’s route?

Waze Carpool drivers’ regular routes are determined by an analysis of commute models based on their Google location history, Waze user history, real-time driver navigation, and Home & Work info provided by the drivers.

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Waze Carpool is Live in Harvey-Impacted Texas & Louisiana

Waze Carpool is live, for free, in Hurricane Harvey-affected areas across Texas and Louisiana.

Hurricane Harvey has devastated areas across Texas, Louisiana, and much of the American south; Houston and Beaumont, Texas, experienced a year’s worth of rainfall in just over a week, an estimated 60,000 structures were damaged, and up to 1 million cars were destroyed (with fuel shortages abound).  But here’s a silver lining: the power of the Waze Community is stronger than Harvey. Together, we’re working to get the people of Texas and Louisiana back to their routines, one free #HarveyCarpool at a time.

Our Waze and Waze Carpool apps work in tandem to help riders and drivers on similar routes find each other, ride together, and navigate around road closures and hazards with real-time updates from the Waze Community.

Note: ride matches may not be immediate, but we hope that for many, Waze Carpool will provide a community-powered solution for getting back to their daily routine as much as possible in this difficult time. The service relies on a critical mass of drivers and riders, so the more active we are in using the Waze and Waze Carpool apps, the better we can all help our neighbors, friends, family, and coworkers get back on the road.

Community Support

We’re grateful to have early support from the University of Houston administration, who will be informing students of the option to share and search for rides using Waze Carpool. Renu Khator, President of University of Houston and Chancellor of the UH System says:

“We are doing everything we can to assist our students, faculty and staff in meeting the challenges they face after Hurricane Harvey, including their transportation needs. We welcome Waze Carpool to Houston as another resource our UH community can consider as they work through their transportation challenges.”

To further inspire community engagement, we’ve also created a Harvey Carpool Facebook Group where Wazers can connect directly and share resources and transportation solutions, and a @HarveyCarpool Twitter channel, which tweets real-time info on delays that are 15 minutes or more above average in affected regions.

How to #HarveyCarpool in available locations:

Have a car and a tank of gas?

Offer to drive other Wazers via the Waze app. Once you’ve setup your profile, you can begin offering up your empty seats to fellow Wazers in need.

Even if you can’t offer a Harvey Carpool directly, you can still help our community keep the Waze map updated in real-time, keeping fellow Wazers safe. As you drive, be sure to safely mark road closures, hazards, and more with the alerts menu in Waze.  

Need a ride?

Download the Waze Carpool app and create your rider profile with simple information, like your work and home addresses. Then, start requesting rides and Waze Carpool will immediately begin looking for a match.

Tip: we recommend that riders place requests at least a day in advance, and that drivers offer a ride proactively via Waze anytime they get in the car.

More Waze to Help

You don’t have to be a member of a Harvey-impacted community to help. Spread the word on how #HarveyCarpool can help with those who need it most.

Post to your social media profiles, start an email chain, call a friend, do whatever you can to get the word out that Waze Carpool is free for people in Texas and Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

You can also help our Waze Map Editors keep area maps up-to-date.  A team of 71 Editors across the US came together when Harvey first hit, providing around-the-clock coverage to update the Waze Map with shelter and road information. You can support their effort by joining the Waze Map Editor ranks. And if you’re already an Editor, you can help by flagging shelters, road closures, hazards, gas availability, and more helpful info in real-time.

Stay safe,

The Waze Carpool Team

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That’s right y’all, today, Waze Carpool opens to all in Texas.

And with it, we’re bringing the revolution to not just outsmart traffic, but end it.

No longer will Texans be held captive by their long, lonely commutes. Join us in working together to fight daily traffic in the Lone Star state, spend less time on the road, protect the environment, and save a little money.

Here’s a Waze Carpool 101 for our new ‘poolers (welcome!) to get started:

Those looking to take the wheel: use the Waze app you know and love to offer a ride. Set when & where you’re planning to drive and let the Waze algorithm go to work to find a match (or two or three). Once found, you’ll get directions to pick up the entire ’pool crew at one optimized spot, and drop them off at a single spot along your route. Oh, and you get to make back some of that gas money (up to $900 a month!).

If you prefer to ride shotgun: download a second app, Waze Carpool, and set where and when you’re looking to catch a ride. Again, let the algorithm search for your more comfortable, cheap, and fun commute.

Then, the best part: everyone celebrates their #WazeWin. Because along with getting to your destination faster (hello carpool lane), you’re also making new friends, cutting back on emissions and saving money.

This Waze Carpool expansion builds off our initial launch in September, when we offered free rides to help improve mobility in hurricane-stricken areas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. After receiving positive feedback about the service, Waze Carpool is here to stay, and growing to serve the entire Lone Star state. At this time, Waze Carpool will no longer be offered in Louisiana, but as Waze Carpool continues to expand there’s al-Waze possibilities of a future return.

So Wazers, what can you do? Well, the Waze Community is big, but with Waze Carpool we can make it even bigger, and stronger. The more people carpool, the fewer cars we’ll have on the roads, and the better your chance is of finding your carpool crew. It’s that simple. Tell friends, family, coworkers and more. Download our apps to drive or ride (search “Waze” in your app store) and join the revolution because we all hate traffic, and it’s time to do something about it.

Get social with the Waze Carpool revolution. Chat with your fellow Wazers in the Waze Carpool Facebook Group, and get updates from the Waze Carpool team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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The New Waze Carpool

Today, we’re excited to share that a new Waze Carpool is here, and totally redesigned with you in mind. Though the experience has changed, our mission has not: we want to make it easy and fun for Wazers to commute together while saving time, money, and the environment—and ultimately putting an end to traffic.

So, what’s changed? The new Waze Carpool is all about choosing the right experience for you. You asked, we listened. And there’s a lot more to come, but new features include:

No more blind matching: yep, you’re in control! You can see drivers and riders going your way, and choose the people you want to carpool with based on detailed profiles, star ratings, and connections like same workplace and mutual friends—along with price and distance off route. Your best matches (closest to your route) will appear at the top. Customize your ride: we’ve added filters so you can choose to ride with coworkers only, or opt to select a driver of the same gender. Lots more options coming soon. Improve your chances to find a match: now, you can send multiple ride or drive requests and easily access your calendar view. Need a few more reasons to give it a go? Waze Carpool will help you make the most of your commute. It’s often the most affordable commuting choice for riders, and an easy way to earn gas money if you’re behind the wheel. It’s also a great way to meet your neighbors, network with coworkers, and know you’re doing good by your city by filling empty seats in your car and eliminating vehicles on the road.

Download the new Waze Carpool app today and see who’s on your route.

Once you try it, don’t be shy. Please tell us what you think over on Facebook. It’s your feedback that helps us improve and continue to make Waze Carpool a better experience for you.

You can also say hi to us on Twitter and Instagram.

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Waze Carpool Rolls into Washington State

Today, we’re excited to share Waze Carpool is live in Washington State.

Why Washington? Waze already has a strong community of Wazers in Washington—more that 375K strong in Seattle alone—who use Waze every day to shave precious minutes off their commute. And with traffic becoming increasingly worse throughout the state, Waze Carpool will help Washington Wazers save even more time via the carpool lane, while making the most of their time on the road, catching up with a neighbor or coworker on-the-go.

Bringing Waze Carpool to Washington was possible thanks in huge part to our allies across the state. With the support our local partners, including; The Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State Department of Transportation, Seattle Department of Transportation, King County Metro, Kirkland, Commute Seattle, and the Tacoma Dome; we can make our shared vision for the future of mobility, a reality. In the words of two of our partners:

“Washington State embraces innovation that helps reduce traffic, and we welcome technology like the new Waze Carpool app that gives the traveling public more choices.”

- Charles Knutson, Executive Policy Advisor to Governor Inslee

“One of Seattle’s great successes is having so many options for people to get around. Our rich environment of great transit, bikeshare, rideshare and carshare helps commuters optimize their day while reducing their footprint. That environment is getting even richer today with the launch of Waze Carpool. On-demand carpooling at the touch of a button is a fast, convenient and low-cost option for people who currently drive alone. We applaud all efforts to help people travel smarter and keep Seattle moving.”

- Jonathan Hopkins, Executive Director of Commute Seattle

So, ready to make the most of your commute? Good news: you can get carpooling in just 3 steps. All it takes is a one-time account setup (you can connect your Facebook or Google/Gmail account) and adding your headshot.

Not ready to commit to being a driver vs. a rider? You can seamlessly move between apps—Waze Carpool for riders & Waze for drivers—with the top toggle, depending on your daily preference and schedule. Ambidextrousness is encouraged!

Start riding:

Browse profiles of drivers, clicking on each individual for additional details like shared interests & reviews from past riders. Request a ride from as many drivers as you’d like. (#ProTip: the more requests, the better the chance of finding a match). And if you’re the plan-ahead type, you can schedule up to 5 days in advance. Wait for the driver to respond & coordinate any final details with your fellow Wazer (not a computer). Start driving:

Browse profiles of riders on your route, organized into a helpful list that arranges your closest Wazers first in your list. Offer a ride. #ProTip: you can offer rides to multiple people at once. You’ll be matched with whoever accepts first. Wait for a rider to respond & communicate and final details with a fellow carpooler before enjoying your carpool. Washingtonians, remember Waze Carpool is totally new to your area, so if you don’t see anyone on your route now, that just means you need to help us spread the word…

Share referrals and everybody gets a #WazeWin. Just look for the 🎁in your app menu and you’ll get a free ride for every friend that rides with Waze Carpool or a $30 bonus for every friend that drives with Waze. Thanks for sharing with all of your friends, family members, and coworkers!

See you in the carpool lane,

The Waze Carpool Team

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3 Steps to Carpool with Waze

Welcome to the world of Waze Carpool, where it’s easy and fun for Wazers to commute together. Because when we ride together, we save time and money, and reduce the strain on the roads and environment. Whether you need a ride, or just want to save some gas money, you can say hello to a better commute in just 3 steps:

Step 1

Choose a time—tap the day & time you’d like to carpool.

Step 2

See who’s on your route—choose who you want to carpool with by browsing detailed profiles.

Step 3

Offer or request a ride! When someone confirms, you’ll get notified with the ride details in your Waze or Waze Carpool app and via your registered email.

Hit a speed bump along the way? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few pro tips to get you into the fast lane, well, faster:

Customize your carpool list with filters for same-gender and/or coworkers only. Get to know your carpool buddy by browsing their profile, where you’ll find star ratings, mutual friends, and endorsements awarded by other Waze Carpoolers. Chat with your potential carpool buddy before confirming by adding a personal message to your offer/ride request. If you think that coffee shop down the road would be a more convenient meeting spot, you do you. Just edit the pick-up or dropoff spot when offering or requesting your next ride. No need to stop at just one ride request or offer. The more people you reach out to, the better your chances are of confirming your carpool. We recommend planning your rides in advance, ‘cause your fellow Carpoolers aren’t professional drivers, just fellow Wazers in your community on the road. Never worry about the awkwardness of a cash transaction. Payments are securely handled through the app, and bonus: they’re tax-free. Riding together doesn’t just mean a faster and cheaper commute for you, it also means taking a car off the road, and clearing up the streets so we can all move a little easier. So, fill those empty seats in the name of ending traffic altogether. And join the Waze Carpool conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or get to know your local community in the Waze Carpool Community Group.

See you in the carpool lane!

The Waze Carpool Team

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Sign up to Waze Carpool — Here’s How

Whether you prefer to command the wheel or relax in the passenger seat, you can have a cheaper, friendlier, and faster commute with Waze Carpool in a few easy steps. It’s about time you started enjoying your commute, right?

Drivers, open the Waze app and tap the Carpool button on the bottom right of your home screen, then hit Get started.

Riders, download and open the Waze Carpool app.

From there, it’s the same 3-step process for both riders and drivers: enter your daily commute route & schedule, and connect your Facebook or Google account to complete your profile. After that, you can add your work or school email address to find fellow coworkers or classmates on your route.

A few #ProTips to remember:

Your “work” address doesn’t need to be a workplace, it can be your college campus, a volunteer center, or wherever you commute to regularly. Make sure your addresses are as accurate as possible—they are kept private, and are only used to find you the best matches. If you ever want to hit “snooze”—or hit the gym— good news: you can update your schedule whenever you want, just go to settings and tap route & schedule. Enter your phone number. This is a one-time step that allows you to contact the people in your carpool. And like your addresses, your number stays private. Note: carrier rates may apply. Looking for more tips? Want to chat to some carpool experts? Join the conversation in the Waze Carpool Community Group.

Happy carpooling!

[wazecarpool]

How to carpool with classmates

A new semester. A fresh class schedule. It’s time for a better school commute, too.

Think of Waze Carpool as service that helps you stay on budget, on-time for class, and even make a new friend. Because when you Waze Carpool, you’re not driving with a professional. You’re sharing the cost of a ride to, and from campus with a classmate or fellow commuter going the same way.

To find classmates on your route, open your settings; that gear in the top right corner of your Carpool screen. If you want to drive, make sure you’re in the Waze app. Want to ride instead? Open the Waze Carpool app.

Next, add your school email, Don’t forget to check your inbox for an email that’ll ask you to verify.

Then, try filtering your carpool list so that only classmates appear. Tap the 3 dot menu at the top of your Carpool list, then tap edit this ride or edit this drive depending on the app you’re using).

Looking for more tips? Want to chat with some carpool experts? Join our Waze Carpool Community Group.

Happy carpooling!