Rideshare is a Perfect Way to Reach Your Destination

Rideshare or carpooling is an old concept which was practiced for many years but lost its popularity in between. But now, again it is becoming popular among the masses. Rideshare is nothing but sharing one single vehicle with many others who are required to reach the same destination or travel by the same route. Rideshare was very popular in the past during the period if World War-II, when United States had to save gasoline. The purpose of rideshare has remained the same in the times of yore and in the present days too.
All those people who are commuting to the same destination or by the same route or those who have limited transportation options or where the public transit access is low, can make a car pool arrangement/rideshare and travel together, comfortably and at the same time contributing to the conservation of the environment and your personal savings too.
Rideshare is the most apt and the best option in the present days when the energy saving and go green concepts are in trend. This will help in reducing the number of cars plying on the road thereby reducing noise and environmental pollution to a great extent. This can also help in conserving energy resources like petrol, gas etc. This eco friendly method can also keep at bay, the problems of smog that is created with more number of cars on the road, the fouling of streams, crop contamination and the effects on the stratosphere and the ozone layer, thus contributing to saving the environment from the global warming threat. The common health problems like asthma, lung ailments and other diseases leading to breathing problems can be avoided to safeguard your health.
For the people who use rideshare, it will be beneficial. The benefits are not only in terms of comfort, health protection but also in terms of saving money. When people share a single vehicle for the purpose of commutation, they are evading the stress involved in driving in the congested traffic, the search for proper parking space for their vehicles, the cost of maintenance of their own vehicles, all the official formalities for getting license and registration for their vehicles etc. All the costs involved in maintaining your own vehicle gets split among many thereby saving your hard earned bucks.
By going for rideshare, you can commute to the place of destination in a relaxed mood. You need not get stuck in the traffic and have the problem of reporting late to your work. In several cities, there are separate lanes for the rideshare vehicles which are allowed to pass freely without getting trapped in the traffic. They are called car pool lanes or high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. So you can escape the ordeal of waiting for long duration at the traffic and the congested roads.
If you are regularly commuting a long distance for your work and you feel bored driving all by yourself, rideshare can help you enjoy your everyday travel in the company of other people.

Adam Korczynski is the managing director of [http://autostop.travel], which is the leader in the Industry of Travel & Tourism [http://autostop.travel], catering to the needs of First Responders all across the globe.

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Commuter Carpools Save Time and Money

Are you tired of wasting time in rush-hour commuting? Are you jealous of drivers in the carpool lane, as they speed past you, the poor soul stuck in stop-and-go traffic? Carpools can provide you with one less reason to declare in frustration that there should be more hours in the day.
Time and Money
Commuter carpools save time by letting drivers use the carpool or high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane. By avoiding the congested lanes, carpoolers have a more streamlined and timely commute than solo drivers. According to the 2012 Urban Mobility Report, the average rush-hour commuter spends an extra 38 hours in traffic each year, up from 16 extra hours in 1982.
Carpooling can also save money: If you're the driver, you can lower the cost of gas by splitting the bill with passengers. Indeed, 33 percent of drivers in a survey by AAA said that they were carpooling to offset the increasing gas prices. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average cost for a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. was $3.64 in July 2013. AAA further estimates that operating costs (maintenance, fuel, insurance, tires and depreciation) for a sedan average 60.8 cents per mile or $9,122 per year. If driver and passengers agree to split some of these costs, everyone benefits.
(To figure out the specific costs for your car, use Edmunds' True Cost to Own^® (TCO^®) tool, which can calculate other costs such as insurance, depreciation and maintenance.)
Many companies offer incentives for employees who carpool. Nike has implemented a carpooling program that gives employees a chance to win drawings for gift cards. Some companies, including Edmunds.com, reimburse employees for the cost of a monthly parking space if they use alternative means of transportation.
Francis Girard-Boudreault, marketing and communication coordinator at CarpoolingNetwork.com, is sold on carpooling for a number of reasons. "Like many others, I have been using carpooling for years for my long-distance trips," he says. "It gives me the opportunity to meet new and exceptional people, plus it's cheaper than a bus ticket and more fun, too," he says. Because he doesn't own a car, Girard-Boudreault estimates he saves $8,000 in annual expenses.
How To Find a Carpool
CarpoolingNetwork.com offers a free online platform for drivers and passengers to meet and plan carpooling for their daily commutes or long-distance trips. The Web site has approximately 50 affiliated partners and more than 67,000 users across Canada and the United States. It offers an online tool that calculates potential savings from carpooling in a specified area.
In addition to CarpoolingNetwork.com, there are a number of Web sites that offer free listings and matching systems, including Zimride, eRideShare and Carma. Many online ride-sharing programs also have apps for smartphones, which can be convenient for finding a quick ride. Carma keeps safety in mind, with the ability to browse user reviews and view photos of the carpoolers. Zimride links carpoolers' profiles with their Facebook profiles to match people up based on interests and recommendations from past carpoolers.
Rules of the Road
Should you decide to organize or participate in a carpool, here are some general guidelines from eRideShare.com:

• Determine a pick-up location: a public place or outside of carpoolers' homes.
• Set rules for when someone is running late; waiting 3-5 minutes is recommended.
• Decide if smoking, eating or drinking should be allowed.
• Set up a contract with payment rules and due dates.
• Keep in mind that the driver has the final say about rules in the car.

Unplanned Carpooling
A successful carpool requires structure. But not everyone is willing or able to commit themselves to scheduled pickup and drop-off times. Carpoolers of this type in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco have developed a carpool system called "slugging." Also called "instant" or "casual" carpooling, slugging allows commuters (known as "body snatchers" in slugging parlance) to pick up total strangers ("slugs") at the last minute, in order to meet the express lanes' minimum passenger requirements.
The pickup sites are well-known, so drivers and passengers can join up in convenient locations on their way to work. Slugging, which traces its roots back to the 1970s Arab oil embargo, isn't about saving money. It's about saving time. No commitment required.
Jump in the Pool?
It's important for you to weigh the benefits and costs associated with carpooling before making a decision. Keep safety in mind and think about whether you're going to be happy riding with others — particularly at the crack of dawn. If you do decide that carpooling is for you, you can plan what you'll do with the 38 hours a year that you just got back.

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