The deep end of the carpool
June 4, 2008
Given the high price of gasoline and the effect every vehicle on the road has on the environment, is it time we started thinking about getting into cars with strangers?
According to the City of Halifax, the answer is yes. The ‘Fax recently made headlines about the launch of its new carpooling (or “ridesharing” as they call it) system at HRMSmartTrip.ca. If you know your point A and point B, this secure little system run in partnership with the Halifax Regional Municipality and Metrotransit, will help you connect the dots.
To many people, carpooling makes perfect sense. It gets those one-rider vehicles off the road reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gasses. Hitching a ride is essentially small-scale public transit getting more people where they need to go without using as much energy to get them there.
But to others, the carpool seems a little shallow.
Not long after the story hit the web, the detractors were raising the issues: safety and security, driver payment, passenger etiquette, pick-up and drop off logistics, and the fact that some people just don’t want to share their ride to work. According to “Fiddle” commenting on CBC.ca, “[Carpooling is a] great idea, in theory… A carpooling matching website sounds simple enough, but nothing is ever simple.”
It may not be simple, but it this transit solution is becoming more popular with programs that have popped up across the country. In many communities (and carpooling ain’t just for city folk) commuters have more than one option when searching out a carpool partner. Some of the web-based programs around Canada include:
Take a flip around the sites above and do your research to see what’s right for you. Like Halifax, your own city may have developed a carpooling program, and many companies have carpooling policies. It may not be perfect, but for many people, it’s the right choice for reducing their environmental impact.
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