The average Los Angeles commute takes 53.68 minutes– roughly four minutes higher than the 49.1-minute US national average. Britons are awaiting the longest train of up to 45 minutes in Europe. Increasing numbers of cars on the road result in more than traffic jams, it makes it even more difficult to fight climate change. We need new modes of transportation and we need them quickly. Although urban planners are crying out for new ideas there is already a viable alternative. Remember carpooling? Carpooling wasn't just about football games. The 1970s saw 1 in 5 Americans commuting to work with colleagues according to the new Commuting in America survey. However, there has been a decrease in ride-sharing over the past 30 years, and by 2015, that number dropped to 1 over 10. Now, new data from the Census shows carpooling is starting to make a comeback. American companies such as Carma, Waze, eRideShare and CarpoolWorld are adamant that digital networks and smartphones can reinvigorate carpooling to its once proud state. Across Europe, too, the phenomenon is starting to catch on; French BlaBlaCar already has 40 million members worldwide. In the UK Tangoride App is used by more than 500,000 users. However, not all countries are so fast in accepting carpooling. This is why companies offer rewards to help people get over the stigma, including free parking spaces and discounted gas. James Nettleton, Investment Director at InMotion Ventures, states "From the UK viewpoint, take off has been slower ..." He says British people feel different about sharing. Carpooling was Never Perfect
Carpooling even at its height had some inherent problems because it relies on having many, relatively frequent commuters who Share Journey, everyday routine. Some of the key selling points provided by the proliferation of carpool apps are that they seek to reduce disputes created by user variables by offering more flexibility in a world with uncertain timetables. "This is no longer a natural commute. During every time of the day everyone goes anywhere, "says Josh Fried, Waze Carpool's host. City Support will Make or Break it
Since the mid-1970s, D.C.'s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) riders have organized "slug lines" to take advantage of HOV lanes. Waze stepped in and created flexible routes that linked more users when the D.C. area faced a partial closure of their Metro transit network as well as a drastic price hike in HOV lane tolls. D.C. embraced the change and gave users $2 a day as an opportunity to carpool.
In offering simpler parking options at transit stations, San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) has launched a new system to facilitate carpooling and public transportation. Drivers involved in the carpool program will use the official BART app to access exclusive permit parking spaces, by using a more convenient digital payment system. Carpooling services, with the help of city infrastructure and rewards, would have a greater chance of making it long term. The new BART carpooling app in the UK, for example, offers you more parking choices. Will you Stick Around?
It needs large-scale coordination to ensure that carpooling is here to stay. Companies looking to reduce their effect on the environment have plenty to gain by motivating workers to adopt the new emerging trend. For example, Bosch currently has an enrolment rate of 50 percent at its Mexican offices, and studies have increased the retention of employees. Carpooling has also expanded their inter-departmental communication as workers who normally don't meet on the way to work will converse. Bosch has saved 55,000 miles (90,000 km) and 25 metric tons of carbon dioxide so far.
City planners and city leaders may promote carpooling in their communities by implementing ride-sharing services with colleges, adding or widening HOV lanes, and helping start-ups interact with targeted audiences such as tech-savvy millennial parents. It's also helpful to step outside of town limits. Supporting the relationship between carpooling start-ups and automakers will make your city a pioneer in green transportation solutions for suburban families without access to transit.
Conclusion:
Carpooling has become increasingly common in metro cities and not only helps to curb emissions but also makes it easy and economical for regular commuting. Carpooling is a beautiful innovation that brings down on the roads the number of vehicles.