CARPOOL TO WORK
In one year, traffic
congestion alone wasted 3 billion gallons of gasoline‑‑about 5% of
the amount
BACKGROUND
The growing number of cars
on the road pose an enormous threat to the environment. Yet there are
few alternatives to driving; in most areas of the
So if you're interested in cutting back your
driving, you may have to take matters into your own hands. Thus far, the best
solution is carpooling.
Carpooling is especially practical if you
commute to an urban area. But you can share a ride to work no matter where you
live. Even carpooling 8 miles from, say, rural
DID YOU KNOW
One‑third of
all private auto mileage is racked up commuting to and from work.
The average commuter car carries only 1.3
riders.
If each commuter car carried just one more
person, we'd save more than 600,000 gallons of gas a day and prevent more than
12 million pounds of carbon dioxide from polluting the atmosphere. e The federal government has cut funding for mass transit by
32%‑which makes carpooling even more important.
SIMPLE THINGS TO DO
Find out how to
connect with other commuters. There's no national clearinghouse for carpool
information, but many local governments are pushing carpools and can help
direct you to the right sources.
In some places,
informal but systematic carpooling arrangements have sprung up near bus or
train stops. People line up and commuters stop to fill up their cars, taking
advantage of special full passenger lanes on toll bridges and freeways.
Advertise carpooling
on community bulletin boards (radio and TV stations have them as public
services), or in weekly "shoppers."