Carpools Are The Way to Stay on the Go

May 20, 2008 By Tisha (Kulak) Tolar

Nearly $4.00 a gallon and rising daily, the cost of gas is just outrageous and more and more people are beginning to find themselves feeling the squeeze. People need to go to work everyday to keep earning a paycheck but what happens when the majority of that paycheck goes to the fuel fund just to get to work? It’s becoming a vicious cycle that is affecting everyone across the nation.

In addition to the effect of gas prices, another hot topic is going green and conserving energy. While it may seem a bit old-fashioned, one concept to conquer both issues is by opting to car pool. Carpooling, the act of sharing a car ride by more than one person, can help save on gas and usage of your own personal vehicle. The arrangements involved in setting up a carpool system oes varying greatly. Some people will prefer to pitch in money towards gas and expenses. Others will rotate weekly driving schedules, all in an effort to save money and help the environment at the same time. Carpooling to some is not an attractive idea because people may feel a loss of privacy, quiet time, or just general control of their lives. However, the advantages can outweigh the disadvantages, especially when it comes to finances.

It may be difficult to find a ride-sharing opportunity. There are some online resources, such as eRideShare which is a community site for finding carpooling opportunities in your area. The service is free and may be worth a look. In the event the various online resources do not pan out for you, get innovative. Start a network in your office or in your community. Start putting together local resources together surrounding the people in your office and branch out from there. Put together a simple press release and let the local newspapers and radio stations know about your plan. You can start an inexpensive website to help connect the community to your ride-sharing idea. If you don’t have the time or energy to put together a system yourself, approach the local government officials for assistance.

By encouraging and utilizing a car-pooling system yourself, you can make a nice dent in the environmental protection of the planet as well as the safety of the roads. The more people that opt to car pool, the less traffic congestion there is during the commute, which can make driving more enjoyable and stress free for everyone.

Posted in automobiles, autos, budgeting, cars, lifestyle, personal behavior, personal finance perspectives, saving money

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