UF will launch a partnership with ridesharing program Zimride on Tuesday.
Anyone with a Gatorlink account can register at zimride.com/ufl to make a free profile and view local routes and requests for daily commutes or one-time trips.
Students and university employees who sign up for the service will drive their own cars. Zimride and UF will not provide any vehicles or specific parking spots.
Zimride will help UF "reduce the impact of single-occupancy cars on campus," said Ron Fuller, assistant director of Transportation and Parking Services.
The partnership supports the Office of Sustainability's One Less Car initiative. For the past four years, the parking department contracted with GreenRide.
UF is switching to Zimride partly because of its integration with Facebook, which will appeal to students, Fuller said. Users can link their Zimride and Facebook profiles to add credibility.
Fuller hopes this social media aspect will make students more comfortable communicating with potential carpool members.
"You can see a picture of the person you'd be riding with, and that may be all that it takes," he said.
Rey Owhonda, an 18-year-old biology freshman, said Zimride will be useful for students, but they need to be careful.
"Make sure you screen the people who are driving because there are crazy drivers," he said.
