Car Sharing

Car sharing

Emissions from vehicles contribute to acid rain, smog and global warming. Try to share car journeys with friends, family or work colleagues and if you drive a vehicle keep it regularly serviced - it will burn less fuel and emit less pollution.

If you were to share a journey, even now & again, you would still have the flexibility of car travel AND…….

Peak-time traffic would be cut in half
You'll save money and wear & tear on your vehicle
You'll be able to relax and chat, arriving at work less hassled
You'll be helping to cut pollution

What is it?

Car sharing (or sharing a lift) is when two or more people travel together instead of in separate cars.

Participants can:

always be the driver
always be the passenger
or take turns

Any journey can be shared:

to and from work
during work time
for visits to hospital
for school
for shopping
to any destination in one direction or return
on a regular basis or occasionally

In this way, sharing a lift can help to reduce congestion and consequently improve traffic flow and journey times during peak travel hours.

Sharing a lift to work - I would but I don't know anyone going my way.

Finding someone to share the journey to work with is one of the main reasons why so many people travel alone. We now have a solution that will help any Staffordshire based workers (regardless of where they live) to find a travel companion - Staffordshire Share-A-Lift. The scheme provides employees free access to an online database of other people searching for someone to share their journey to work with.

Security is maintained by registering the employer first so that details of users can be checked. Only employees from registered organisations can access the site.

The Share-A-Lift scheme benefits not only employees but companies too. By signing up and encouraging their staff to share lifts employers will find that local parking and congestion problems are minimised; employees arrive at work less stressed and as they are saving their wages will appear to go further; recruitment and retention possibilities are improved; and it fits well into any environmental policy the company has.

For further information visit www.share-a-lift.com

Or email carshare@staffordshire.gov.uk

What's in it for me?

Reduced costs
The cost of driving your own car is considerably more than the cost of the petrol you use. Although you must not make a profit, sharing your journey means that you can share the cost.

Less stress
Driving in busy traffic every day, can be stressful, share and the stress can be reduced.

Socialising
Car sharing provides companionship and the opportunity for socialising and networking.

Helping the Environment
Look around - how many cars do you see occupied by only 1 person?!
By sharing you are being part of the solution and not just part of the problem!

For organisations

Eases the demand on limited parking spaces
Reduces the costs of providing employee car parking spaces
Reduces the environmental damage caused by staff getting to and from work
Reduces congestion on site and in the local community

Active support of car sharing makes a positive environmental statement about your organisation

"Just how many nurses can you get in a Mini?"

What about insurance?

Obviously all cars used must be taxed and have a valid MOT and you must be fully insured. Providing that costs are shared and no profit is made most insurance policies are unaffected.

Check if you are unsure.

Tips on successful car sharing

Arrange to talk first

Arrange an initial meeting with potential sharers before the first trip and discuss the following -

A trial period
Suggest car sharing for a month and agree to look again at your arrangements if they don't appear to be working well. Don't feel you have to commit yourself to car sharing every day of the week.
The route and times
Establish the morning pick-up points and also the time and meeting place for the homeward trip.
The ground rules
Discuss the following issues in advance to give your car share a better chance of succeeding e.g. the volume of music, radio channels, smoking or non-smoking, car temperature, eating, whether or not it is necessary to chat etc. For passengers under 14 years of age it is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure they wear seat belts.
Waiting times
Decide how long the driver is expected to wait for the passengers to arrive
Schedule of drivers
If you are going to share driving will you alternate daily, weekly, monthly etc?
Reimbursement of costs
If everyone shares driving equally this won't be an issue. If not, then you should agree in advance the amount, regularity and dates of payment.
The communication system
Draw up a list of sharers' telephone numbers and agree on a procedure for notification and, in the case of the driver, a reserve if someone is ill or will not be going to work.

Useful Links

www.nationalcarshare.co.uk
www.carplus.org.uk
www.car-sharer.com
www.streetsalive.net/share.html
www.villagecarshare.com
www.ematraveltowork.com/carsharing.asp
www.travelcalculator.org

Last Modified: 20/03/2008 15:29:59
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