This agreement continues the carpooling service that began in the city in August 2023 through the Center for Environmental Studies (CEA). Following the positive results of that pilot experience, the council decided to consolidate the service with a new contract awarded to Hoop Solutions, which will provide a digital platform for organizing trips.
The system is straightforward: drivers with available seats in their vehicles can offer them to other passengers undertaking similar journeys. Drivers will receive a municipal incentive of 0.90 euros per passenger per shared trip within the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Passengers, in turn, will pay 0.60 euros for journeys up to eight kilometers. For longer routes, drivers can set a price per trip or per kilometer, capped at 0.18 euros per kilometer.
The service also includes other incentives linked to Energy Saving Certificates (CAE), which allow for financial benefits based on the energy saved.
“"Many people make practically the same commute to work every morning, each in their own car. We want to make it easier for them to share these trips. It's a way to make better use of vehicles, reduce traffic, and also save on travel expenses."
Carpooling is particularly useful for commuting to work, especially to industrial estates and other activity centers where many people still rely on private vehicles. The platform will also facilitate organizing trips originating from or destined for Vitoria-Gasteiz, although the incentives directly funded by the City Council will apply to trips made within the municipality.
This initiative is part of the measures outlined in the Sustainable Mobility and Public Space Plan 2026-2030, which promotes carpooling as an alternative to reduce the number of vehicles circulating with a single occupant.
