Monday, April 13, 2009

Mondays Matters: Week 15



Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

RIDESHARE

Only 10.2% of workers rideshare. 52.5 cents/mile is the average cost to drive a car due to fuel, maintenance, tires, depreciation, and insurance. 34% of roads are in poor or mediocre condition due to heavy usage and lack of proper repairs.

ACTION STEPS

1. Find a rideshare partner. Ask a co-worker, fellow student, or friend.

2. Check with your company or school to see if there is an organized rideshare program.

3. Follow these guidelines: Meet new rideshare partners before your first commute. Discuss preferences like seating arrangements, music, eating, cell phone usage, and smoking. Set up a probationary period to try out the arrangement. Provide information about your rideshare partner to someone else in case of emergency. create an equitable driving and cost arrangement. Be punctual.

4. Do something meaningful with the $2,520 you save!

Since I don't work, I can't really speak personally to this idea. Although I have combined shopping trips with a friend so we both didn't need to drive. A few miles from our home, there is an area where several people park their cars, so I assume they are ridesharing to work. Since I live 30 minutes from the city, I do try to combine my shopping trips into as few days as possible. If I am already going in for something I get all my errands done in that day so I don't have to go back. No, it isn't ridesharing, but I am trying to reduce the amount of trips I make.

Rideshare reduces gasoline usage, vehicle wear, traffic sress, pollution, and dependency on foreign oil. Who knows, you may even make a new friend or two!

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