MAIN Your Money Money Savers Carpooling

First begun in the U.S. during the first serious gas crunch in the 1970's, carpooling has again taken off in popularity with the current fuel shortage (which some experts say may yet result in $5-a-gallon or more at the pump.)

Today, carpool arrangements may vary from a casual "...need a ride?" offered by a friend or neighbor - to more structured carpool schedules setup by community organizations, local governments, or major employers.

Pooling expenses between two or more riders is only one of the advantages of daily carpooling to school or work.

Besides the obvious savings in fuel costs, many U.S. states have encouraged carpooling by instituting HOV (high occupancy vehicle) express lanes on highways, to help cut down on commuting time during the morning or evening rush hours.

Those who have made carpooling a daily ritual now say they sometimes miss the independence of a personal commuting schedule, but in a broader sense point to contributions made to the environment such as lessening carbon emissions and the threat of global warming.

Today, for those who wish to join a local carpool the quest has never been easier - with the proliferation of online communities and databases that allow commuters to search for a convenient ride from home to work, and back again.

More about carpooling around the Web:

Around the Web, find out more about carpooling and its growing popularity along with top sites offering more information on where to find a local carpool in your neighborhood:

CommuterPage.com - A mini-directory of carpooling resources including information on HOV lanes, "slug lines", tips on successful carpooling, and where to sign up for or start your own carpool.

eRideShare.com - Register free at one of the more popular carpooling searches online offering a database of carpools in the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and Europe, plus related carpooling tips, FAQ.

Divide the Ride.com - Where busy families can create their own carpool schedules with other neighborhood moms, dads and kids. Featuring free signup, online calendar & email alerts.

iCarpool - Free signup to register your trip details and search for likely carpooling partners with tips on carpooling etiquette, FAQ.


Find a Ride - U.S. carpooling networks:

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