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8:58 p.m. • 2-10-12

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Make a friend, save on gas with carpool


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carpool
carpool

The national average is about $4.06 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas. With prices this high, more people want to carpool. However, finding someone to drive with is easier said than done.

Lily Yang drives at least a half hour from her Raleigh home to her job at Research Triangle Park. Much like everybody else, gas prices are hitting Yang's budget hard.

“I'm really looking forward to have a solution,” she said.

Yang said she thought she found the solution online: Web sites devoted to helping people find carpool partners.

Yang posted her information on two Web sites, but has yet to find a carpool partner.

“It's frustrating because I put my name on (the list) but got not so many feedback. I think so far it (has been) one and a half years,” she said.

During that time, Yang has only gotten one response, but that person lived too far away.

Sometimes, though, it does work out.

“It's a win-win situation for everybody. It's easier on your wallet and for the environment,” Paul Michell said.

Tim Stevens and Paul Michell say carpooling, for them, made perfect sense. They live near each other and work at the same place. Stevens said he tried to find a carpooling buddy online first.

“It's hard to match up logistics as far as the arrival point and the destination point,” he said.

Still, with no relief at the pump in sight, many people are trying.

An executive with an online carpooling Web site estimates membership has tripled since February.

Some business are even offering parking spaces for people who can prove they are carpooling.

Carpoolers may also be eligible for federal tax breaks, according to the AAA.

RELATED TOPICS: Research Triangle, Raleigh, Tax Cut

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15 Comments


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to Get Right this is not about being un-American, although you are somewhat correct in that. We are unable to coordinate such programs given the past habits we are accustomed to. it will take a national efforat and an effort by states to make this work. there hve to be hubs where riders can park their vehicles and then consolidate the riders. Look at northern VA

It can work but requires organization by local government and employers.

Pooling works great for my cousin's husband in Stafford VA on the way to the Pentagon. They have lots where people park and do so to get in the hi-occ lanes to DC. Four to a car and it is a way of lfe.....

We need public transit here, firstly...then the "burb" thing will fall into place....they have a way to get back to Fredricksburg by train if need be

As long as they don't mind siiting on their side and keeping their mouth shut and don't mind talk radio HA!

Animal Lover, I would say every little bit helps. Maybe if you only carpooled Tues - Thurs, then you are at least making a difference. My carpool runs Tues - Fri. I do miss going off on my own for lunch, but I only face that prospect every other Friday, so it isn't so bad.

I've tried carpooling off & on for several years now. Can't seem to find anybody who's interested with similar hours. Location is not as much of a problem if riders all work in central Raleigh.

When I worked in Denver, CO in the 80's, I drove a carpool for 3 years from Co. Springs, which amounted to 150 miles round trip. I had anywhere from 1-3 riders ALL the time. Car pooling is an accepted way of life there; here, it's a foreign concept as GetRight has mentioned.

I just had an email this AM from someone asking about carpooling. She lives very close to me & could change her hours to more match mine, but she can't take Mondays off due to a busy workplace on that day. I can't switch & take Fridays off because my boss has that day off every other Friday & he doesn't want both of us gone on the same day. Oh well - it almost worked.

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