Employers and other organizations who hold commuter fairs or conduct transportation surveys send in commuters' requests in written form. Ridematching is simply linking up neighbors who have similar commutes and work schedules so that they can carpool or vanpool. When a commuter requests ridematching, a specially trained commute consultant enters information about that person's commute into the ridematching database. A list of potential carpool or vanpool partners and their phone numbers then appears on the commute consultant's computer screen. This is the commuter's personalized matchlist.
Commuters receive their personalized matchlist through the mail.
A search can be limited to a small radius or expanded to a large area, depending on commuters' needs. A second 486 server supports the back-up and development system. A third serves office automation needs. Ridematching end users utilize SCO Open DeskTop workstations, character terminals, or Macintosh computers. Matchlists and reports are printed on LaserJet III and RuggedWriter printers donated by Hewlett-Packard.