Thursday, December 18, 2008

Carpooling: The Second Most Fun You Can Have in a Car

Americans have an undying love affair with their cars. We also find ourselves at a crossroads so-to-speak. The environment is slowly choking on our exhaust fumes and gas is more expensive than ever before plus traffic commutes can be brutal. Car pooling is slowly becoming the hippest way to get from point a to point b.

So, what exactly is car pooling? You simply find a few people in your neighborhood that work either in the same office or in the same area. (If you are lucky enough to work for a particularly progressive company that allows you to work from home, carpooling can apply to soccer games and even ballet recitals.) Members of the group take turns being the driver. Ideally, at the end of the week, everyone has driven at least once and you have a little more coin in your pocket. In addition to a healthy bottom line, our collective respiratory health improves as well

Carpooling: The Second Most Fun You Can Have in a Car

Carpooling also cuts back on your stress levels. When someone else is in the driver’s seat, you are left to your own personal quiet time. Remember how you’re always complaining that you don’t read enough? Here is your chance.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Thanks to rapidly rising gasoline prices, there is renewed interest in carpooling. Most carpooling promotions emphasize the saving in fuel costs and reduction in pollution. However, there are far more advantages that are rarely discussed.

Carpooling reduces virtually all expenses related to owing a car. Driving fewer miles reduces insurance rates, maintenance, parking costs, etc. In some cases, a family can even eliminate one of their cars or buy a cheaper car as a result of carpooling.

In areas with high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, carpooling reduces commuting times. Even a small percentage increase in the number of carpoolers can make a significant difference in traffic congestion in any area with heavy traffic.

Passengers can relax and read or nap instead of increasing their stress levels fighting traffic. The prevalence of portable MP3 players allows passengers to listen to their own music, Podcasts, or whatever they wish as they ride.

Advantages are not limited to the carpoolers, either. Employers also stand to gain from their workers’ carpooling.

The ability of passengers to relax on their way to work can result in more productive employees. It can also create more camaraderie among coworkers.

Fewer cars results in less demand for employee parking. This is especially beneficial for employers that lease parking spaces.

Reducing commuting costs allows an employer to recruit from a larger geographical area. Carpooling websites such as MyCasualCarpool.com allow employees to set up park and ride lots where those who have similar schedules and work near each other can find rides and passengers. RideshareOptimizer.com allows users to find their optimal carpool partner by minimizing the extra driving required to pick up and drop off passengers.

Summery: Carpooling is not for everyone. Many – if not most – commuters are willing to pay more for the privacy and flexibility that driving alone provides. As gas prices increase, more commuters are willing to give up those advantages. Fortunately, there are many websites to help would-be carpoolers find partners.
FAQ

OTHER ADVANTAGES OF CARPOOLING

Thanks to rapidly rising gasoline prices, there is renewed interest in carpooling. Most carpooling promotions emphasize the saving in fuel costs and reduction in pollution. However, there are far more advantages that are rarely discussed.

Carpooling reduces virtually all expenses related to owing a car. Driving fewer miles reduces insurance rates, maintenance, parking costs, etc. In some cases, a family can even eliminate one of their cars or buy a cheaper car as a result of carpooling.

In areas with high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, carpooling reduces commuting times. Even a small percentage increase in the number of carpoolers can make a significant difference in traffic congestion in any area with heavy traffic.

Passengers can relax and read or nap instead of increasing their stress levels fighting traffic. The prevalence of portable MP3 players allows passengers to listen to their own music, Podcasts, or whatever they wish as they ride.

Advantages are not limited to the carpoolers, either. Employers also stand to gain from their workers’ carpooling.

The ability of passengers to relax on their way to work can result in more productive employees. It can also create more camaraderie among coworkers.

Fewer cars results in less demand for employee parking. This is especially beneficial for employers that lease parking spaces.

Reducing commuting costs allows an employer to recruit from a larger geographical area. Carpooling websites such as MyCasualCarpool.com allow employees to set up park and ride lots where those who have similar schedules and work near each other can find rides and passengers. RideshareOptimizer.com allows users to find their optimal carpool partner by minimizing the extra driving required to pick up and drop off passengers.

Summery: Carpooling is not for everyone. Many – if not most – commuters are willing to pay more for the privacy and flexibility that driving alone provides. As gas prices increase, more commuters are willing to give up those advantages. Fortunately, there are many websites to help would-be carpoolers find partners.



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