Guide to Alternative Transportation Table of Contents
Guide to Alternative Transportation is a series consisting of 3 parts.
- Guide to Alternative Transportation: Part 1, Understanding Transit
- Guide to Alternative Transportation: Part 2, Public Transport
- Guide to Alternative Transportation: Part 3, Ride Sharing and the Community
In part 3 of the guide, let’s take a look at community based alternative transit.
This, by and large, is not the same thing as “public” transportation. Rather than being run by the city, community based alternative transit relies on the activity and motivation of people within the community. When thinking of this, two main forms of alternative transit come to mind: carpooling and rideshare programs. The difference between the two is scarce, but there is a distinction to be made.
You’re all going to the same place – Carpool
Let’s start with carpooling.
Carpooling is an idea you’re probably familiar with: most basically, carpooling is when one car is shared by multiple people going to a destination. (Although ridesharing is essentially the same thing, there are a few slight differences – they’ll be explained below). Carpooling is a great idea for office workers, students, and colleagues going to the same destination. Not only does it help save money on gas, but it also helps reduce emissions and the waste associated with vehicle use.
Carpooling is also a great way to get to know you know your “acquaintances.” With a few hours in the car and back a few days out of the week, you’ll be given the opportunity to open up and talk to your office mates without the office atmosphere. If your classmates, this also makes for a great study opportunity!
What is Ride Sharing?
Ride sharing is mostly different from carpooling on the back end of things. By that, some think of ride sharing as more of a program while carpooling is an experience with office buddies or those you might already know. There are actually certain ride share forums you can post on to find out if there is someone in your area going the same direction, which speaks to its “blind” nature.
Of course, the same benefits apply to ride sharing. But this time, you have the possibility of meeting new people with new skill sets coming in all fields, including those great for your business. You may also meet someone that might make a great new friend!
Big Benefit for Small Actions
Overall, both carpooling and ride sharing can end with some pretty big benefits. On top of saving money on gas, reducing pollution, getting to know your colleagues better, and/or meeting to new people, there are still a few things to note about traveling with this of transportation in mind:
- Congestion – Just like public transit, this is pulling cars off the road. This is a major benefit in large cities like Los Angeles and New York, where congestion can lead to tons of other problems like road rage.
- Increase the life of your car – Carpooling and ride sharing also help you reduce the miles you put on your car every week. That means a longer, healthier life for you vehicle, saving you money and headaches.
- Faster Travel – The carpool lane on the freeway is – if you didn’t know – your ticket to an early morning. With HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes and HOT (High Occupancy Toll) in many states, there is an effort by state official and communities to add some additional perks to not traveling solo!
Start a carpool or discover a ride share program in you area and start saving!
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