Parking like the prez

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Muriel-and-Joan-cropped.jpg” caption=”Muriel Gervais, left, and Joan Garson stand by their reserved parking spot. Photo credit: Jennifer Dawson”]Editor's note: The following story is the fifth in a series of commuter profiles by the Alternative Commuting & Transportation Office.

It's a snowy morning in late February but Joan Garson doesn't bother to shovel the driveway or sweep off the car before she departs for work. She leaves the house, locks the door and steps carefully down her driveway, past her silver car which is resting lazily beneath its undisturbed white blanket of snow. Today it's co-worker Muriel Gervais' turn to drive. Joan slides into the passenger seat of Muriel's waiting car. The car is already warm. So is Muriel's “good-morning” smile.

Garson and Gervais, McMaster employees working in the Health Sciences Centre, have been carpooling since the summer of 2003. They applied for a McMaster carpool permit following the launch of the program earlier that year. “We realized we were basically following each other from Caledonia to campus and figured that was kind of silly,” reminisces Gervais. “When we found out we could get Zone 3 parking in a special spot just for us, we decided to give it a try,” adds Garson. “Now we're parking just like the prez,” she laughs.

Like so many McMaster employees who have connected with each other through walking, cycling, taking transit or sharing the ride to campus, the opportunity to socialize has become an important benefit to the arrangement. “Joan is like my mentor and confidant,” Gervais admits with a sly wink at Garson. “It's a long drive, half an hour,” says Garson. “Yeah, we chit chat. It's nice to have someone to socialize with.”

Convenience and cost-savings are a real benefit, too. They figure gas for a return trip to Hamilton can cost as much as six bucks, plus mileage on the car; by sharing the driving they share the associated costs. The price of their parking permit is also shared equally between the two women. Cut-rate carpool vouchers, which allow them to occasionally bring both of their vehicles to campus, add appreciated flexibility to the program. Gervais — who has young children — and Garson — who is an avid golfer and hits the course right after work when she can — find that these vouchers mean they can have a carpool permit without sacrificing family or hobby.

The key to a successful carpool arrangement, they say, is to be a good communicator. “Be flexible and up front. Tell your partner ahead of time if there's going to be any changes to the schedule or whatever,” Garson noted. “We've never had any problem.”

In a couple of months, Garson will no longer make that trek down her driveway to Gervais' waiting car; after 25 years at McMaster she will be enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Gervais, understandably, has mixed emotions about the upcoming change; not only will she be losing her mentor and co-worker but her carpool partner as well. So on behalf of Muriel, McMaster's Alternative Commuting & Transportation Office (ACT) is putting out a call to Caledonia drivers who may be interested in sharing the ride to campus as they know a well-seasoned and highly-motivated carpooler looking for a partner. Gervais can be reached at gervaism@mcmaster.ca.

Not coming from Caledonia but still interested in meeting your match? There's never been a luckier time to look for a partner. McMaster has subscribed to a no-cost, no-hassle electronic ridematching program and is offering a $5 gift certificate to Slainte  Hamilton's premier Irish pub  to all employees and grad students who create a profile and search for a partner between now and March 17. Click here to find out more.