Your parents and your friends’ parents may have alternated carpooling duties to drive you and your friends to school (and other events like soccer practice) when all of you were much younger, but its’ definitely an idea you should start up again once your start your first semester in college. Organizing a carpooling system with fellow classmates can provide an array of advantages, especially for those who live off campus—trust me, as a recent college graduate I would know. That said, to learn all the firsthand benefits that carpooling can provide in college so that you (or your child) can organize a carpooling system, continue reading below.

Easy Route to School

When I was a college student getting to class on time was a bit of a hassle. I owned my own vehicle, but parking on campus was a complete nightmare—the lots were almost always full and I was forced to lap around the block for 30 minutes before something became available. By that time, I missed half of my professor’s lecture. Frustrated, I tried the next best option: the bus.

The bus was great because I didn’t have to worry about parking, but unfortunately it was just too slow. The bus made about 12 pit stops before it finally reached campus. Not only did it take what felt like forever to get to campus, but it took an eternity to get home. A few neighbors who relatively had the same school schedule as me finally came up with the bright idea to carpool three days out of the week. Parking on campus was still rough at times, but if one of us had class at 8 a.m. and the driver at 9:00 a.m., the 8 a.m.’er had the opportunity to just walk to class while the driver looped around for a bit to finding parking. Both managed to make it class on time.

It’s Eco Friendly And Cost Effective

Carpooling is also great because it reduces gas emissions that are released into the atmosphere. It’s a great way to lower your carbon footprint almost effortlessly. It’s also cost effective. You can save your gas if you choose to switch off carpooling duties and end up using less gas money; or your carpooling friends can pitch in for gas which still helps you save. My friends liked to carpool to class, but it was also convenient if we wanted to travel somewhere that was somewhat a bit of a drive—like the school-affiliated boat parties on the lake or the bookstore across town.

It’s Responsible

Last but not least, carpools are extremely useful (and the safest way) to enjoy an evening out on the town. Again, parking on a college campus is a hassle but can be even more difficult in the evening—just around the time campus parties take place. It’s easier for one vehicle to find parking than four. Not to mention, it’s the safest way to “party”—the driver should be the automatic “DD” to ensure everyone’s safety. Your group can alternate who is the designated driver each time, but someone needs to be in charge.

Nadia Jones is a freelance education writer that specializes in both traditional and accredited online colleges. She also enjoys covering topics that help consumers save money and live eco-consciously. She welcomes your comments.