Vehicles take the carpool lane on the approach to the Bay Bridge in 2025. Casual carpooling is making a comeback among commuters.

After David Knowles became the Chronicle’s deputy editorial page editor, he had to start commuting to San Francisco from the East Bay.

Of course, taking an AC Transit bus or BART is the practical way to commute to the Chronicle’s downtown office, where parking is at a premium. In the past few months, and especially after gas prices spiked, Knowles discovered another mode of commuting. 

One morning, Knowles was waiting at his AC Transit stop when a driver pulled up and asked people to get into the car. No, it wasn’t a kidnapping attempt. The driver explained they were trying to get enough passengers to drive in the carpool lane to get to the Bay Bridge, saving time and money.

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“It’s a bit disarming to be standing waiting for a bus and have a stranger offer you a ride,” Knowles told me, adding that he hesitated before taking the offer. “There were two people in the car, both of whom........

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