Beginner

Introduction

Road transport accounts for around a fifth of all UK greenhouse emissions (Office of National Statistics). As a result, reducing emissions from road transport remains a significant challenge for the UK. However, by adopting new habits, such as carpooling, we can all play a part in reducing our transport emissions.

What is carpooling?

Carpooling or ride-sharing, is the sharing of car journeys instead of everybody taking separate cars or modes of transport.

For example, if you live close to a few colleagues, you could pick them up on your way to work. The next day, another one of your colleagues could pick everybody up and do the driving. Alternatively, if you’re meeting a few friends for a day out, one person could decide to drive everyone, instead of taking multiple cars.

What are the benefits of carpooling?

  • The number one benefit of carpooling is that by only taking one car for a journey, you are greatly reducing transport emissions. Ultimately, you reduce your carbon footprint as well as reducing the carbon footprint of those who you carpool with.
  • Carpooling is a very sociable experience – carpooling with friends or colleagues is a great way to form relationships with those around you and be more sociable on your commute.
  • Save money – By carpooling and sharing your journeys, you’ll reduce the amount if money that you spend on petrol, tolls and parking charges.
  • Carpooling reduces traffic – If everyone shared a car ride for their commute, local traffic would be significantly lighter. This would make it quicker for everybody to get to their destinations and with less cars on the roads it would be easier to find parking spots.

If you’re struggling to find people to carpool with, or are planning a long-distance journey, here are some of the best apps to help you out. Click on each company to find out a little more!

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