Car Pool
The regular trips we take to work, the market or school can be shared with others (co-workers, neighbours, other students) to reduce our car use. Express lanes, car pool parking spots at work, and online resources to connect you with other people travelling your way (not to mention increasing fuel costs) make car pooling the de jour transport mode of the naughties. Car pooling to work alone is estimated to save the average person from $575 - $3500 p.a. depending on distance, car and number of poolers.
How to do it now!
Car pool to work - Send an email around work asking if anyone lives close to you and if they would be keen to alternate driving to work with you. You could even set up an online registry!
Waverley Council has provided two locations, called ‘pods’, at Bondi Beach and at Bondi Junction for car share vehicles. GoGet has been operating in the Waverley area since January 2006. For information about the service please visit GoGet or call 1300 769 389.
Randwick Council also provides a car share operation in partnership with GoGet recently adding three additional locations ‘pods’ across the City, providing access to cars near Belmore Road shopping centre, Coogee Beach, Randwick Town Hall and Maroubra Junction.
Preferential parking for car-share and electric hybrid vehicles are now available at six popular locations around the City including Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra Beaches, off Belmore Road and at Maroubra Junction.
The Randwick City Council website provides some further information on sustainable transport options.
There are a number of online resources to aid you in finding your ideal car-pooling team…
- The Car Pool - Free
- My Spare Seat - Free
- MyCarPools - Free
- TheCarPool - Free
- OzCarPool - $22 p.a.
- Icarpool - $25 activation fee
These sites also have good info on car pooling etiquette, plan Bs and how to share costs.
Car pool to shop - Speak to you neighbour and explore if they'd be keen and if its convenient to share the regular trip to the supermarket or local food markets.
Car pool the kids to school - Speak to the parents of your children's local friends and see if you can alternate driving the kids to school (this one means less time on the road for you…)
Why this action is important?
Transport accounts for a significant portion of most people's personal CO2 emissions. Reducing the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses entering the atmosphere is critical if we are to address climate change and the environmental havoc it is causing. In addition, by car pooling you can save hundreds of dollars per year, have to drive less and hopefully get to know some interesting people.