Does driving alone drive you crazy? Are high gas prices really putting a dent in your wallet? Whatever the reason, maybe it's time you thought about joining a carpool or a vanpool. Ann Arbor's getDowntown Program offers a variety of resources to help make it easier for you to carpool and vanpool to work.

Click here to check out the carpool/vanpool section of the getDowntown website.

Click here to see the getDowntown guide to sharing a ride to work.

If your commute is especially long, you might want to consider a vanpool. With a vanpool, you are provided with a van and just have to pay a monthly fee in order to participate. Employers like the University of Michigan will even pay part of that fee as an incentive.

And both getDowntown and the University of Michigan offer preferential parking for vanpools. The vanpool program for the state of Michigan is run by MichiVan.

Want to learn more about what a vanpool is like from actual riders? As part of the getDowntown Commuter Challenge, we asked participants to share their stories of carpooling and vanpooling to work as part of our Rideshare Storyshare contest.

We've got two stories from the finalists for this contest. You can see the stories below. Please vote for your favorite. The winner of the poll gets a $25 Borders gift certificate and a prize pack of getDowntown goodies and coupons!

The Michigan Difference

The vanpool is more than a way to work for me. Besides helping the environment by saving on gas and pollution, it is a shining example of what makes the University of Michigan "Difference."

It has become a great source of moral support and created a sense of family for the nurses that ride. We are able to support one another emotionally, spiritually, and materially through difficult times, such as the death or illness of a family member, difficult days at work and other personal hardships.

There are girls in my vanpool that have helped one another by passing on baby clothes and supplies, planning social events and sharing our belongings to make life easier. Most recently someone passed along tables, chairs and serving dishes for an open house.

I am happy that the vanpool is there at the end of the day to relax and decompress. I would not trade my time in the vanpool weekly for anything. I feel fortunate to be a part of this great group of people. I only hope more vanpools will form in the future so more people can recognize this great resource.

— Kimberly Rodriguez RN CCRN, CICU

From Doubting Thomas to Vanpooling Diva

I was one of those reluctant people who didn’t want to be “tied down” to a vanpool. I live over an hour away, and what if I needed to get home for an emergency? I found out that I am allowed a taxi ride home for emergencies and that helped to ease my mind somewhat, but I was still reluctant to make that change.

I kept coming up with excuses for not joining. I have early meetings twice a month that I needed to be here for, and what if I wanted to leave early one day or have my husband pick me up to go somewhere after work? There was always an excuse.

A primary driver contacted me a couple of months ago to see if I would be interested in joining their vanpool, and with the outrageous gas prices and the fact that my car now has high mileage on it, not to mention needing to leave home even earlier to arrive in time to find a parking spot, I thought I would give it a try.

It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have the light blue AVI that allows me to drive myself to work up to four times a month, which covered my question about needing to drive once in a while.

 I have the best group of girls possible in our van, and I couldn’t be happier. We get along great and even take turns surprising the team by bringing a treat once in a while. Don’t be a “Doubting Thomas” like me; join a van pool and get rid of all that stress and save money too.

— Darlene Elam, University of Michigan Health System

Nancy Shore is the program director of getDowntown. Reach her at nancy@getdowntown.org.