Website set up to encourage more car pooling

THE National Transport Authority is aiming to succeed where several private initiatives have failed by launching a website designed to encourage more people to engage in car pooling.

The new website — www.carsharing.ie — hopes to get people to sign up to share car journeys and lower motoring costs as well as ease congestion and parking problems.

The website which has been developed by the NTA was formally launched by junior Transport Minister Alan Kelly yesterday as part of the Government’s smarter travel initiatives.

Staff in several large organisations including Accenture, NUI Maynooth, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, NUI Galway, Cherrywood Business Park and Waterford Institute of Technology are already participating in the initiative with more than 1,000 people sharing lifts to and from their workplace.

The project is also being supported by sporting bodies including the FAI, IRFU and GAA who are encouraging players and supporters to enter car pooling arrangements for travelling to fixtures.

The website is free to use by individuals, clubs, event organisers and workplaces who are interested in setting up their own car sharing groups.

“With petrol going up and more people becoming aware of our environmental challenges, we can use technology to get people together and our pockets and environment will benefit. It is a key part of our smarter travel policy,” said Mr Kelly.

The minister said the new interactive website would be particularly useful for people travelling to games, concerts and other events.

The NTA claimed there is significant interest in car pooling as an option for travelling to work.

According to the 2006 census, 6% of commuters said they regularly car share on their journey to work. However, a recent survey of people interested in engaging in smarter travel option revealed 44% would be interested in a car pooling option.

The NTA said the standing cost of owning an average-size family car is €4,500 per annum before the cost of motor fuel and repair and servicing is taken into account.

It is estimated that the cost of making a 20km round trip each working day adds up to €3,000 per year excluding any cost for parking.

The NTA said car pooling with just one other person can cut commuting costs by up to 50%.

The Irish Insurance Federation has confirmed that car sharing will not affect a driver’s insurance so long as the owner does not make a profit from the total money they receive from passengers for the journey.