Could you car share?

After spotting somebody on Twitter complaining they'd had to pay £4.50 for a 10 mile bus journey "would've been cheaper to drive - grumble", I wondered just how many motorists that passed the bus stop would have been going to that part of town, the unhappy Tweeter finally got to.

Take that thought a stage further and if you travel to a fairly busy industrial area or shopping area to work, how many of your 'neighbours' live on your regular commute run?

Car sharing's not for everyone, but if you were able to offer someone nearby a lift in of a morning or evening ( as long as you're both flexible, it wouldn't have to be every journey , then you could both halve your commuting fuel costs.

That's worth a little ground work sourcing prospective sharers isn't it?

If you work for a largish employer, you could start by asking your co-workers if they live on or beyond your route?

To make such a car sharing scheme a success, it's important to lay some simple ground rules like:

Last time to notify the driver if you're not going to be making the journey. Nothing worse than waiting for someone who doesn't turn up. (that goes for the driver too).

Taking your turn with the driving (if that's feasible).

Being prepared to be a few minutes flexible on departure times (at both ends of the working day)

Being prepared to trial it and if it doesn't suit, then saying so openly.

Have a look online as well. There are a few journey sharing websites round - particularly when the travel concerns longer distances or events like exhibitions, conferences, concerts and sporting events.

These sites have some useful guidelines for both driver and passenger including a reminder of common sense etiquette, that will make your car-sharing experience one you'll want to repeat.

photo credit: greene connections

How to de-centivise green vehicle ownership - Californian style

Frankly I'm amazed.

Drivers of hybrid cars in California will have just lose their HOV status.

HOV stands for High-Occupancy Vehicle and is a series of special lanes on major routes which allow car sharing drivers to whizz past the stationary traffic.

Previously, Hy-brid vehicles had also been allowed to use the HOV lanes - even with a single occupant.

Now due to the popularity of vehicles like the Toyota Prius, the lanes are becoming too congested, so their use will now be restricted to passenger sharing vehicles and all electric vehicles like the Tesla Roadster as well as some natural gas powered vehicles.

It's a move that isn't going to endear itself to the 85,000 hybrid owners (source Inhabitat.com) but might well evoke a similar spending spree on all electric vehicles - who can say?

Reminds me of the Government's drive to get us all driving diesel cars in the early '90's. The minute we'd bought one, the cost of diesel suddenly shot up to match and even exceed petrol prices.

They've never come down since. (grump!).

photo credit: computerguy

The Government wants me to be a green driver - I thought I already was?

Yes - the Government wants you to be a green driver. The sum is simple - reduce the mileage and you reduce the CO2.

Amongst their suggestions is car sharing for trips to work, walking rather than driving to places under 2 miles away (schools etc), car sharing with other parents for school runs, planning your journeys to take in appointments / work with shopping rather than making separate journeys... and on it goes.

They even suggest shopping online and having your groceries delivered rather than all driving to the supermarkets ourselves.

Did you know that 75% of people live within 2 miles of a national cycle route?

Unfortunately, many of us live in the real world - you know, the world where buses run once an hour before dropping you off at least 30 minutes walk away from your work-place. Where car sharing equals 'thumbing a lift' and to cycle would mean leaving the house an hour earlier. OK but only when the sun shines!

Sure there are always going to be occasions when you could walk instead of take the car and its up to the individual to take advantage of these opportunities as fuel costs continue to rise and car ownership in general is more costly.

Or perhaps you're exploring a hybrid vehicle of some kind for your next car?

The Energy Saving Trust website has loads of practical suggestions for cutting down your own personal car usage - including links to a national scheme of car sharing - remember to stay safe out there people!.

photo credit: skippyjon