The casual carpool, that beloved East Bay tradition, is coming back to Oakland next Tuesday, amid worries that this fall’s work commute might be the worst in years.

The carpools are a volunteer service, where a driver picks up enough passengers at a designated location to use the high-occupancy lane during commuting hours. They were disbanded during Covid lockdown, but an informal organization, SF Casual Carpool , has been hatching plans to bring them back.

Members of the group worked all summer to set up the first relaunched carpool. They said drivers — and passengers wanting a ride into San Francisco — will meet under the I-580 freeway overpass, at the southwest corner of the Grand Lake parking lot. The carpool will run from 5 to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Camille Bermudez, one

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