Give carpooling a go on Carpool Day - 5 August
Next Wednesday 5 August is Carpool Day and you are encouraged to have a go.
Ping Sim, coordinator of Greater Wellington’s new Let’s Carpool programme, says the national day is an inaugural event for New Zealand. “The idea of Carpool Day was dreamt up by Auckland woman, Sarah Painter, who tried carpooling some time ago and has never looked back.
“It’s a great way to meet new people, have some interesting chats or lots of laughs on the way to and from work. Plus, you can save money and time by carpooling. So we are hoping that people will take the plunge this Wednesday and try it.”
Ping Sim said since Let’s Carpool was launched in May, about 550 people had registered. “We’ve had some very positive feedback from people who have started carpooling and are enjoying the experience. The more people who register the greater are your chances of finding carpooling partners, so it is definitely a case of the more, the merrier with Let’s Carpool.”
The programme is aimed primarily at people who drive solo to work and who do not have reasonable access to public transport. Simply go to Let's Carpool and enter some details about where you live and work. All the effort of finding potential carpool matches will be done for you.
The website is secure, so no details are made public. Also, Greater Wellington is subsidising, on a trial basis, an emergency ride home scheme for workplaces that register. “A lot of people who drive to work by themselves do so because they may need to get home, or to their child’s school or daycare centre in the case of an emergency. They don’t want to be stranded. We are initially subsidising a six-month emergency ride home scheme for all workplaces that register. This will give employers an idea of the costs of providing an ongoing emergency ride home scheme for their staff who choose to carpool.”
Ping Sim says employers are also being encouraged to offer priority parking for carpoolers, and hosting a morning or afternoon tea for potential carpoolers to meet each other.
“Clearly, there are plenty of great incentives to carpool. Try it and see for yourself on Carpool Day this Wednesday.”