Back to School: Organizing a Carpool

Cole Quinnell, 

8/14/2014

Don’t look now, but summer vacation is winding to a close.

If your kids are in school, it won’t be long until mornings revert to a whirlwind of activity. Getting your kids up and ready for school is hard enough, but then you actually have to get them there.

Some of you may be lucky, with a school bus picking them up and dropping them off right down the street. But for others, the weekdays may include taxiing the kids to and from school.

With just a few weeks before the bell starts ringing on another school year, now is the perfect time to organize a local carpool. Carpools are a great way to save you time, money and hassle this year. Plus, by cutting down on the number of duplicate trips to and from school, you’re also helping the environment.

Does it sound like a neighborhood carpool might work for you? Great! Here are a few pointers for getting one started.

Pick the Right Participants

If you’re looking to organize a carpool, chances are there are probably lots of other parents from your school that would want in. The goal of any carpool is to get the kids to school on time and safely. You wouldn’t trust the welfare of your kids to just anyone with a car. And some parents, although well intentioned, always seem to be running a few minutes behind schedule.

Start with your children’s circle of friends. Spread the word to their parents that you’re putting together a carpool. Keep the list of participants small and trustworthy. If you have a few candidates in mind, organize a meeting and get to know the other parents to make sure they’re a good fit.

Get Organized

Once you’ve found a core group of like-minded parents, it’s time to develop a plan.

First, you’ll need to draft a schedule that works for everyone. There are a lot of different ways to create a driving rotation. You could have one parent be responsible for pickup and drop-off on a designated day of the week. Or, maybe parents would prefer to work on a week-to-week basis where one individual is responsible for all of the driving on a given week. Regardless of how the responsibilities are distributed, make sure everyone is pitching in equally and onboard with the plan.

Next, you’ll need a way to organize your efforts. Depending on the level of technological savvy of your carpool group, this can be accomplished a couple of different ways. You can meet in person on a regular basis to update schedules, contact info and responsibilities as time goes on. At the very least, make sure every parent understands the pickup and drop-off locations and has contact information for everyone else in the group.

You can also take advantage of technology by creating an online meeting space using the internet and social media. Facebook groups are a great way to keep everyone in the know. You might also consider using smartphone apps like Carpool School Edition or Looptivity. Both were developed to help busy parents with carpool organization, and have a number of helpful tools for setting up and maintaining your carpool.

Be Safe and Be Fun

When it comes to carpooling, you’ll need to be ready for everything. Make sure each parent’s vehicle is stocked with an emergency roadside kit, first-aid supplies and snacks for all of the little travelers (be aware of and sensitive to food allergies too). You never know what’s going to happen on the road, so you should plan for contingencies.

Today, it seems like just about every kid has some kind of electronic device that their eyes are glued to. But it’s a good idea to have good conversation starters or road-trip games in your back pocket in case you need to break the ice, or keep everyone focused and ready for school.

Have any tips, tricks or great ideas for getting a carpool off the ground? Share your wisdom and expertise with your fellow Ford Social fans by leaving a comment below or submitting a carpool story today!

 

Even Music Sounds Better in the 2015 Ford Mustang

• 2015 Ford Mustang will be available with three audio systems including a standard  six-speaker configuration, a premium nine-speaker system with an eight-inch touch-screen  or a 12-speaker ShakerPro with trunk-mounted subwoofer
• New car’s improved structure and aerodynamics provide a better acoustical foundation for audio fidelity
• Mustang is the first Ford vehicle to feature a high-power, 2.1-amp USB port that charges phones and other devices twice as fast as other ports

The throaty rumble of a V8 or the refined though aggressive note of an EcoBoost^® engine is generally the preferred soundtrack when driving a Ford Mustang. Yet for those times when a favorite road trip tune is called for, the all-new 2015 Mustang has that situation covered as well.
“As our team developed this Mustang, the goal was to improve the car’s fidelity in every respect – from the way it slices through a corner to the way the audio system reproduces the sound of favorite driving songs,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “The process of rebuilding this car from the ground up allowed us to improve all aspects of the driving experience.”
Creating a solid foundation is essential to extracting the maximum performance out of the tires and suspension on the road. But that same foundation also provides numerous side benefits, such as enabling the audio system to provide cleaner, clearer sound.
The stronger body structure of the 2015 Mustang fastback is 28 percent more resistant to twisting than the previous model, resulting in less noise. The acoustic environment is also aided by improved aerodynamics that result from twice as much simulation and wind tunnel development – significantly reducing wind noise, especially at highway speeds.
“With a fundamentally quieter baseline to work from, we had a better acoustic environment to tune the audio systems in the new car,” said Joe Kafati, multimedia systems supervisor. “The reduction in ambient noise enabled us to achieve the same sound pressure levels in the cabin with much less power and distortion.”
The new Mustang is again available with three audio systems, each of which is better than the system it replaces in the outgoing model. The baseline system features a six-speaker configuration with separate high-frequency tweeters, now mounted in the A-pillars and pointing across the cabin to provide more direct sound to the driver and front passenger.
The more rigid doors of the new Mustang enable the use of slimmer, lighter 6.5-inch door speakers that don’t need as much travel to produce comparable audio volume, with higher-fidelity mid-range and bass sound. A pair of 6.5-inch round full-range speakers are mounted in the rear package tray of the fastback, or in the quarter panels in the convertible.
Both available premium audio systems add a front center speaker mounted in the top of the instrument panel for improved vocal and speech clarity. These systems add a separate 8+1-channel amplifier, and use powerful neodymium magnet speakers to help reduce weight while improving overall sensitivity and sound reproduction. The mid-range nine-speaker system adds a second speaker to each door, separating the low and mid-range frequencies for improved fidelity.
Stepping up to the top-end Shaker Pro system that is available on Mustang EcoBoost Premium and Mustang GT Premium brings 12 polymer cone speakers, with a pair of coaxial tweeter/woofers in the rear, plus a trunk-mounted subwoofer for maximum bass response. The subwoofer has been repackaged to fit into the rear corner of the trunk, leaving more space for cargo. Even with the Shaker Pro audio system, the 2015 Mustang convertible can still accommodate two large golf bags, or everything you would need for a weekend getaway.
“We took advantage of our new acoustics lab to tune the equalization modes for each system to provide improved clarity across all frequency ranges and in different driving conditions,” said Kafati. “The lab provides us with a consistent baseline for measuring the response of audio systems with a wide variety of music and spoken word content.”
Using the lab, Kafati and his colleagues can take objective measurements and bring in listeners to evaluate the audio from each seating position, ensuring everything sounds clear and well balanced.
With mobile technology constantly evolving, Ford SYNC^® has always been designed to enable drivers to easily connect devices of their choice. Mustang is the first Ford vehicle to feature a high-power, 2.1-amp USB port in the media bin at the base of the center stack to charge those devices twice as fast as before.
No matter which audio system a Mustang customer selects, supplemental controls on the steering wheel and voice activation for hands-free operation are standard. With standard Bluetooth wireless connectivity, drivers don’t even have to take their phone out of pocket or purse to stream music or take calls.
Each of the three available systems includes a single-disc CD player and auxiliary input. The standard audio system also features next-generation SYNC AppLink^™, enabling drivers to take advantage of selected smartphone apps while keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
“Whether it’s a V8 rumble or ‘Mustang Sally,’ we’ve worked to make this the best-sounding Mustang ever,” said Kafati.

2015 Ford Fusion - Sleek, stylish and efficient.

 

The Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid models have a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery (the battery is bigger in the plug-in model) and an electric motor with a gasoline engine for efficient operation. These models also feature next-generatrion SmartGauge^® with EcoGuide, providing real-time information to help you drive more efficiently. Another standard feature, regenerative braking, captures 90 percent of the kinetic energy and uses it to recharge the lithium-ion battery. In gas-powered models, three available EcoBoost^® engines are designed to optimize efficiency, thanks to turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable cam timing.

*1.5L I-4 EcoBoost^® engine: EPA-estimated rating of 25 city/37 hwy/29 combined mpg, with available Auto Start-Stop, automatic transmission. Actual mileage will vary. 2.0L I-4 EcoBoost engine: EPA-estimated rating of 22 city/33 hwy/26 combined mpg. Actual mileage will vary. 2.5L I-4 engine: EPA-estimated rating of 22 city/34 hwy/26 combined mpg. Actual mileage will vary. 2.0L Atkinson-cycle I-4 Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid engine: EPA-estimated rating of 95 city/81 hwy/88 combined MPGe. Actual mileage will vary. MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation. 2.0L iVCT Atkinson-cycle I-4 Fusion Hybrid engine: EPA-estimated rating of 44 city/41 hwy/42 combined mpg.

 

Actual mileage will vary.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid has an EPA-estimated rating of 44 city/41 hwy/42 combined mpg.* It has a 2.0L I-4 Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine that delivers 188 net horsepower. At speeds up to 85 mph, the vehicle can travel in electric mode. To help you drive more efficiently, next-generation SmartGauge^® with EcoGuide acts as a driving coach, providing real-time driving feedback, courtesy of screens on either side of the center-mounted speedometer. Left-side display screens include Engage and Empower modes, providing a variety of real-time information to help you get the most efficiency from your vehicle. When your driving becomes more efficient, the right-side cluster display grows leaves and vines. You can track the powertrain’s operation – hybrid drive, electric drive, gas engine, plus instant and average fuel economy.

 *Actual mileage will vary.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid is a progressive hybrid that provides the option of plugging in or not. The vehicle is designed to be efficient, thanks a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery and electric motor with a gasoline engine. The battery provides enough power to operate in all-electric mode for commutes of an EPA-estimated range of up to 19 miles.* With plug-in capability, you can fully charge the battery overnight using a 120-volt outlet. There is also an available 240-volt home charging station that provides a full recharge in approximately 2.5 hours. When fully charged, the EPA-estimated gas plus electric driving range is 550 miles.** When the battery is depleted or when more power is needed, the vehicle functions as a traditional gas-electric hybrid. It also features a Regenerative Braking System, allowing it to capture the braking energy and store it for later use.

 

 

*EPA-estimated rating of 40 city/36 hwy/38 combined mpg. 14.0-gallon tank; 19 miles electric. Actual mileage will vary. EPA-estimated rating of 95 city/81 hwy/88 combined MPGe. MPGe is the EPA-equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation. **Range calculation based on www.fueleconomy.gov. Actual range varies with conditions such as external elements, driving behaviors, vehicle maintenance, and lithium-ion battery age.