Parking Services

Carpool Program
 

Eligibility:

In order to participate in a carpool, the following criteria must be met:

  • A carpool must consist of at least 2 participants residing more than 2 miles from the center of campus designated as the Cooper Library.  Carpool Boundary Map 

  • Participants must qualify for one of the following categories:

  1. Clemson University full-time, permanent employee with an office address  on the main campus

  2. Clemson University full-time student with majority of classes on the main campus between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm

  • Participants must share a ride on a regular basis (at least 4 days a week).

  • Participants are required to have a compatible day-shift work schedule and/or class schedule

  • Participants must live along a reasonable commuting path.

  • Motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds are excluded from the carpool program.

  • Carpoolers must register together.  Each person in the carpool must complete a Carpool Application and present a Clemson University ID.

  • Each carpool applicant must provide proof of separate vehicle ownership.

  • Carpool permits may take up to three business days to process. 

  • Any loss of a carpool participant by change in affiliation, any abuse or deception by any member in the carpool program is grounds for surrendering the carpool permit. Any type of falsification or improper use of carpool parking permit or persistent violations are grounds for citations, impoundment of vehicle, or revocation of parking privileges for a faculty, staff or student.

How it works:

  1. Each carpool will receive one carpool hangtag that can be used on any vehicle registered to the carpool.  All participants will be issued a carpool decal which must be properly affixed to all vehicles in the carpool. The hangtag and decal must be properly displayed on the vehicle in order to occupy a carpool parking space.

  2. The carpool hangtag must be clearly displayed by hanging from the rearview mirror, no exceptions. The carpool permit must be permanently affixed to the outside left rear window or bumper, no exceptions.

  3. The vehicle displaying the carpool hangtag and decal must be parked in a marked carpool parking space. After 5:00 pm individuals may park their vehicle in an appropriate commuter or employee space until 7:00 am. Vehicles registered in the carpool program cannot park in the 24 hour employee spaces.

  4. If a participant in a carpool needs to drive separately from their registered carpool group they are expected to use their Occasional Parker Permit to park for the day. Each participant is allotted 5 Occasional Parker Permits every semester. Participants may also purchase additional Occasional Parker Permits at the regular price rate, $3 per day. 

  5. If an emergency arises while participating in the carpool, the participant will be provided a ride through the Guaranteed Ride Home program between the hours of 7:30 am and 4:30 pm. 

  6. Any changes to the carpool participants must be declared to Parking Services within 3 business days. This includes addition, deletion, or changes to the members. If the total participant count of the carpool falls below 2, the carpool will be disbanded and the members will be required to obtain normal parking permits.

  7. Misuse of the carpool permit will result in the cancellation of parking privileges. Misuse includes but is not limited to displaying hangtag in a vehicle not registered to the carpool and affixing carpool permit to vehicles not registered in the carpool.

Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Program:

All carpool participants are eligible for the guaranteed ride home program three times per semester. This program is available in emergency situations only. Arrangements for a guaranteed ride home will be need to made Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 4:30pm. University holidays are excluded. Participants will need to call Parking Services at (864) 656-2270 to arrange the emergency ride. Guaranteed Ride Home Program may be used in the following instances:

• Illness or crisis of the participant or that of a family member

• Unexpected request of supervisor to work past regular schedule without advance notice (requires verification)

• Driver of carpool had to leave due to an emergency, leaving you without a ride home

Participants can be taken to one of the following destinations:

• Home

• Destination related to the emergency

• Hospital or doctor’s office in the event of sudden illness

The Guaranteed Ride Home Program is not meant for the following:

• Personal errands

• Pre-planned medical appointments

• Work related travel

• Working late without supervisor’s request

• Early departure due to weather conditions 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I start a carpool?

Any full-time commuting student, full-time, benefit eligible faculty or staff can start a carpool. All interested participants must fill out the carpool application and provided proof of residence and vehicle registration.

2. What is the Guaranteed Ride Home Program? 

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Program is a service offered through Parking Services. The GRH is designed to provide participants with rides home in the event of an emergency. Each rider that is registered for the program will receive up to three emergency rides home per semester. The GRH is not meant for personal errands or non-emergencies.

3. What is the registration process and what information do I need to have?

The first step to register with the carpool program is to have an active carpool in which all members are Clemson University full-time, benefit eligible faculty, staff, or full-time commuting students who are willing to participate in the program. 

When submitting the carpool application you will need to include proof of residence (utility bill, lease, etc.), vehicle registration, and Clemson University ID. Parking Services will notify the applicants by email of their approval into the carpool program.

Upon notification of approval carpool participants must come to Parking Services together in order to turn in any current valid permits for a refund or termination of payroll deduction. Carpool permits will be issued at this time.

4. When does the carpool permit expire? Can I renew online?

The carpool permit must be renewed twice a year, once in January and once in August. The expiration date for the Spring 2009 carpool permits will be August 15, 2009. The expiration for Fall 2009 carpool permits will be December 31, 2009. Participants will be required to renew the permit in person as a group during each semester. At this time, online renewal is not available for carpool permits.

5. What happens if a participant drops out of the carpool?

A member of the carpool must contact the Parking Services within three business days of a change in the number of carpool participants. The participant of the carpool who drops out of the group will not receive a refund (unless they dropout within the first 5 business days of purchasing the permit). The total number of participants in a carpool must be 2 or more in order to stay active.

6. Can we add more riders to our group during the life of the carpool permit?

Yes, your group may add more members to the carpool at anytime. The addition of participants to the group will require the new participant to complete the carpool registration like the other participants. Upon approval the new participant may purchase a carpool permit and be issued 5 Occasional Parker Permits. 

7. What happens if our carpool disbands?

A participant of the carpool must notify Parking Services within three business days of disbanding. All participants will be required to turn in their Occasional Parker Permits and carpool permits and will not receive a refund for the purchase price of the carpool Permit.

All participants of the carpool will be required to purchase a new parking permit at its existing rate.

8. What is the cost of the carpool permit?

Full-time Commuting Student                            $37.50 per semester

Range 1 Full-time, benefit eligible Faculty/Staff   $ 6.75 per semester

Range 2 Full-time, benefit eligible Faculty/Staff   $21.00 per semester

Range 3 Full-time, benefit eligible Faculty/Staff   $33.00 per semester

Range 4 Full-time, benefit eligible Faculty/Staff   $42.00 per semester

9. Can I pay for my carpool permit through payroll deduction?

No, carpool permits must be paid in the Parking Services office.  Participants currently enrolled in payroll deduction will turn in their current employee parking permit and fill out a form to terminate participation in payroll deduction

10. Can Parking Services assist with setting up a carpool group?

Not at this time.  

11. Can I join a carpool group if I currently have a commuter student permit?

Yes, you would need to complete a carpool application and turn in your commuter permit upon approval. You will be issued a refund for your commuter permit minus the cost of the carpool permit.

12. Can the occasional parker permits be shared amongst members of a carpool?

No, the occasional parker permits are assigned to the vehicle registered to the individual member of the carpool.

13. Can an individual register more than one personal vehicle into a carpool group?

No.

14. If a carpool space is not available in the parking lot, can the carpool permit be used in an employee or commuter space?

No, during the hours of 5:00 am -5:00 pm vehicles displaying carpool permits can only be parked in carpool spaces. 

15. Can I park anywhere on campus with only my carpool decal?

No, when parking on campus the carpool decal must be used with the carpool hangtag or Occasional Parker Permit.