Car Pooling

We all know that it would be better for us and the environment if we drove less and walked more. But most of us know this isn't really possible. Sometimes because of the distance or lack of a bus or train, makes a car the only option. So could car pooling be a good way to eco travel.

Car pooling or sharing is basically the use of a car by the driver and one or more passengers. The most popular form of car pooling is with work colleagues, who all commute to the same place. With the idea being it saves everyone making a sometimes long and repetitive journey. Saving on fuel costs, cutting traffic congestion as well as helping the environment. I also think it could be more fun than driving on your own, and could reduce the stress of driving.

Nowadays some companies are introducing facilities to help encourage car pooling. For example, carshare.com is a unique database of UK car sharing schemes that operates at a shopping centre near me. Lakeside Shopping Centre has over 300 shops, so you can just imagine how many people travel daily to the same place for work.

Now there is even a National Liftshare day, on June the 9th. Its aim is to raise the profile of car sharing and encourage people to try it.

With petrol and driving costs now becoming so expensive, I think car sharing is a great idea, if it’s a situation that makes it worth while. As long as you know who your travelling with, obviously and can trust them to pick you up in time, for work or uni, I think car pooling is an idea that needs to be encouraged here in the UK. It’s good for the environment and cost effective. I do think though car pooling needs to become a lot more popular before it really makes enough of a difference to congestion. Some places in America have really great car pooling schemes and I think this shows how good the idea could be.