Figure out the
cost
of your commute to get a realistic estimate of how much
you are spending on your commute to work and how much
you could actually benefit from carpooling.
According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, in
2005 nine out of ten people drove to work and 70% of
them drove alone. With rising fuel costs and concerns
about the environment this is clearly not the most
efficient practice. If you do not have a reliable
public transportation system and don't want to give up
your car there is an answer: Try carpooling to work.
Carpooling is a great way to do your part in reducing
your carbon footprint as well as reducing the amount of
money you spend on high priced gas each day. In the
2005 survey,
carpooling was the next largest means of transportation
to work, even greater than public transportation.
Carpooling is two or more commuters riding in the same
vehicle. This allows you to ride in the commuter lane,
if there is one in your area, which will often make your
ride to work quicker. Talk to co-workers or neighbors
and see if you can set up a carpooling schedule. If
not, there are a number of
services
that will match you up with someone in your area. Do
remember that you are potentially getting into a car
with a stranger so be sure that you feel comfortable
with him or her.
You might become uncomfortable with the idea of having
to share your quiet commute with others, even
strangers. However, it's helpful to look at the bigger
picture. Think about the money you could save and the
stress in the long run that you'll be avoiding by
reducing your costs when you feel like you are losing
some of your independence. It will become second
nature once you establish a convenient and effective
system.
Reasons to carpool
1.
Reduce traffic. Who doesn't hate getting stuck in
traffic? This is actually taking a step to reduce it.
Think about how much congestion would be reduced if
everyone at your office carpooled.
2.
Save money on gas. With gas costing at least
$4/gallon around the country everyone is looking to save
as much as they can. Think about how many times a week
you have to fill up your tank for your commute to work.
3.
Save wear and tear on your car. Most people put
the most mileage on their cars by commuting to work.
Think about the money you'll save with reduced oil
changes, tire rotation, and other maintenance expenses
when you give your car more rest.
4. Alleviate stress from daily commute.
Are there days when you're stressed before you even get
to work? You might not realize it but driving requires a
lot of concentration and can be very stressful. If
you're worrying about being on time and fighting
traffic, you can get very frazzled. Carpooling is a
great way to share some of that burden.
5. Help minimize carbon emissions.
More than ever we are hearing about the deleterious
effects of individuals' contribution to global warming.
Do your part to reduce your carbon footprint by taking
an extra car off the road, and cutting down on the
levels of carbon dioxide released into the environment.
6. Avoid the hassle of parking.
Once you actually get to work, you have to find a
parking spot. Unless you have a permanent spot this can
be time consuming and frustrating. When you don't drive
you'll be able to avoid parking all together, on the
days you do drive there will be one (or more) less cars
to fight for a spot.
7. Cut down on high tolls or fees.
In recent years, toll costs have gone up. Even with
convenience technologies like E-Z pass, you are still
paying a large fee, and the lanes are often not much
quicker than regular cash lanes
8. Earn Rewards.
There are programs throughout the country that actually
give rewards for carpooling. In Atlanta you can receive
a
gas card
each month through the Clean Air Campaign. You can get
cash rewards or gift cards
from the Transportation Commission in San Francisco. Do
some research and you might find a similar program in
your area.
Carpooling: The
Commuting Alternative
By Lauren Brown
Provided by WorldNow
