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Ride sharing catching on as low-cost way to combat gas price hikes
COMMENT: What are you doing ot make a difference?
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
As gas prices continue to soar to record levels, paradoxically, one organization is seeing fewer and fewer drivers on the road, even as its membership increases.
RideShare of Ohio now has 1,448 commuters in its database — 59 who live in Middletown — said Summer Jones, spokeswoman for the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, which operates the carpooling program that extends into Butler County.
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The program began 25 to 30 years ago in the midst of the gas crisis that resulted in long lines of cars extending outside of gas stations.
Amid current high gas prices, RideShare usage is increasing, Jones said. The operation works by matching applicants with other users in their database. In March of this year, 51 of 72 matches were successful. By contrast, Last year in March, 23 matches were attempted, but only six were successful.
One of the users of RideShare is Rod Steele, who commutes from his home in Fairfield to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a distance of about 50 miles each way. Steele heads up a van pool, which charges members $105 a month — but considering the distance many people travel, that's a considerable savings from using one's own vehicle. The van seats 15.
In addition to reducing expenses, carpooling or vanpooling also can reduce stress, said Steele.
"I was really glad to get on the vanpool. You can read, people can bring their laptops and do work or wear headphones and watch a movie. A lot of people nap in the mornings," Steele said.
Carpooling doesn't have to be all consuming. David Shuey, a Hamilton County resident, says his carpool might run only two or three times a week, and he rides with only one other person.
Those interested in Rideshare may contact (513) 241-Ride or go on the Web to rideshareonline.org.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.
Comments
By Michael
April 23, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this
Michael C.: Very eloquent, hate filled reply….sorry you believe everything you hear, without investigating the truth. Spoken like a true Democrat!
By GishiGo
April 22, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
There are a bunch of websites that will help you rideshare. I use GishiGo all the time. Also use the freebie websites since they are free and have lots of users. But I always use the GishiGo to filter freaks. If the person doesn’t want to exchange identity in a solid way, that means not just email and phone number (commonly fake), then we don’t meet. It’s simple and effective. http://www.GishiGo.com
By Gary
April 22, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Kudos Michael! Having grown up in Monroe, now in Palm Springs Ca, I see a major difference amongst the Liberals out here and the Conservative upbringing I had there. Its all for handouts here……… You are educated and correct about global warming!!!!!!!!!!!1
By Michael C.
April 22, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Wow, third times a charm. Oh wait, not understanding how to use modern technology is yet another symptom of a lack of education. And, now that Ohio’s educational system is failing miserably, people are free to express their uneducated opinions and affect public policy -thus further damaging and destroying the Earth in the name of greed and gluttony! Great! No wonder employers are fleeing this state in droves…
By Michael
April 22, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Global warming as a result of human actions has yet to be proven, just like evolution. Yeah, the earth is getting warmer, but it’s been doing that since the Ice Age. It’s just a political tool for some democrats to gain office. You can’t prove or disprove it!
By Michael
April 22, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Global warming as a result of human actions has yet to be proven, just like evolution. Yeah, the earth is getting warmer, but it’s been doing that since the Ice Age. It’s just a political tool for some democrats to gain office. You can’t prove or disprove it!
By Michael
April 22, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Global warming as a result of human actions has yet to be proven, just like evolution. Yeah, the earth is getting warmer, but it’s been doing that since the Ice Age. It’s just a political tool for some democrats to gain office. You can prove or disprove it!