It is estimated that Americans spend over $1.5 billion on gas every day. This is mainly due to the fact that most individual Americans own their own car, or even multiple cars! With so many cars on the streets transporting us from one location to the next, gas has become a necessity in our everyday lives.

But gas prices are also higher than they’ve ever been in U.S. history, and as our cars continue to consume more gas, more carbon dioxide emissions are being released into the air. That means we’re spending more money just to destroy our environment! So how we can decrease our gas consumption and our greenhouse gas emissions, but also still get to where we need to go? The answer is a ride share.

What is a ride share?

A ride share is another term for car-pooling. Ride sharing is when people travel together in one car rather than driving their own cars. It is most widely used by people commuting to work, or by college students that need a ride home.

What are the benefits of ride sharing?

Not only does ride sharing save you money, but it’s also eco-friendly! Here are some other benefits:

• You can use the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on highways
• Using one car dramatically reduces carbon dioxide emissions
• Less traffic on the roads
• You can save tons of money on gas and parking expenses
• You can relax while someone else drives
• Puts fewer miles on your car
• Less stressful than sitting in traffic congestion alone
• Conserves non-renewable resources like oil
• Ride share services find carpoolers for you and may offer you benefits

Where can I find a ride share service?

Besides organizing ride shares on your own or with friends and coworkers, there are many ride share services available around the country. Here are a few websites that offer you ride share information:

511 Rideshare

Ride share service operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and funded by grants from the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and county congestion management agencies.

eRideShare.com

Free service that connects commuters and travelers to ride share sites in the U.S. and Canada.

iCarPool.com

Carpool network that offers carpool, vanpool, bike and transit services for free to customers, and promotes alternative modes of transportation.

RideShare

Offers carpool, vanpool and SchoolPool services to commuters in the city of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson.

RideshareOnline.com

Arranges ride shares for daily commuting or major events in the states of Washington and Idaho.

Ride sharing is an eco-friendly alternative to driving your own car every day. It’s a great way to save on gas money, and a fun way to get to know people better!