Site FAQs
Who can use ecoCommute?
Any Global Affairs Canada (GAC) employee with an @international.gc.ca email, within the National Capital Region (NCR) can use ecoCommute.
How do I register with ecoCommute?
Registering with ecoCommute is fast, easy and simple. Follow these easy steps:
First time users:
- Click on 'Register as a new user'
- Enter your @international.gc.ca email address and select a personal password
- Enter your personal profile information such as gender, driver or passenger preference, etc.
- Enter your address information including
- Home address or carpooling origin address (if different from your home address)
- Destination (work) address
- The system will confirm your origin and destination on a map.
- If the system doesn’t recognize the address, you will be able to select your location on a clickable map. Drag your cursor across the screen to move the map or zoom in/out with the “+” or “-“ buttons.
- Define your travel schedule.
- Select ‘Search for matches”
- The system will return a list of potential carpool partners, based on your defined search criteria. You may modify or change any of this data to better narrow down your search.
- To contact a person from your match list, select “email this person”. The email is sent from you to the contact directly from ecoCommute. The contact is then able to reply directly to you.
Registered Users:
- Login with your UserID and Password
- Start searching
- Contact people from your match list
Why do you recommend that I use my work email address?
For the safety and wellbeing of all employees, ecoCommute is restricted to GAC employees only. All @international.gc.ca email addresses require confirmation before the system enables you to search for carpoolers. Email verification will be used to ensure that employees can only search within GAC and are doing so with validated registrants.
Why can’t I search for carpool partners immediately upon registering?
Before registrants are permitted to search for carpool partners, the system will send an email to validate the email addresses entered. When you receive the email, you need to click on the activation link to enable the search feature.
How does ecoCommute find carpool matches?
EcoCommute is one of the most advanced ride matching systems in existence today. Your origin and destination are geocoded to a corresponding latitude and longitude coordinate. A ‘route’ from your origin to work is evaluated. The system will match within a user-defined distance from your origin, destination and along your route.
What if I don’t want other people to ‘find’ me in searches because I’ve found a carpool partner or I’m not able to carpool right now?
Simply click on the “Personal Profile” button, and then uncheck the button that says “I am actively looking for a carpool partner”
I forgot my UserID. What can I do?
Remember that your UserID is also your email address.
I forgot my Password. What can I do?
On the login page simply click on the link “I forgot my password”. Enter your email address and the password which corresponds to that email address will be immediately mailed out.
How do I get help if I’m having technical problems?
If you’re experiencing any problems, click on the help link at the bottom of the page to email technical support.
Who do I contact if I have comments or general questions?
Click on the comments link at the bottom of the page to email ecoCommute support.
What is RideShark Corporation?
RideShark Corporation is the developer of the ecoCommute application and hosts the application database. RideShark Corporation is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.