Ride Sharing: Check It Out!

Standing on the corner of a busy intersection in Portland, OR, a friend and I counted the number of rush hour vehicles which contained only a driver. We were astonished to see near 80% of the cars holding one passenger; what a waste! Carpooling or ride sharing is one of the simple ways we can make a difference for the environment while providing opportunities, save money and make new friends.

Does sharing a ride really save money and help the environment? According to the American Automobile Association, it costs an average of 26.2 cents per mile to drive a car. Burning one gallon of gasoline produces about 18 pounds of CO2. Sharing both of these costs with others can make a big difference. All it takes is a little flexibility, and a little planning.

Several states offer creative incentives to promote ride sharing. Vermont provides up to $150 a year to ride share participants for taxi service when rides don't work out. Cornell University guarantees a ride home to participants if their usual ride is not available.

Several years ago I found a ride share on craigslist.org. The person was driving from Portland to Denver the same time I needed to get there. For 18 hours we had a good time sharing stories, jokes, and songs to pass the time. I arrived safely at my destination knowing I had a new friend and both of us had spent far less than driving separately.

You can set up individual carpools with friends and co-workers, or go as far to join a car share network, where a group of people agree to maintain a fleet of vehicles cooperatively and have access to a variety of options.