Car pooling is a great way to save money, while retaining the flexibility, ease and convenience of being able to drive door-to-door.
Get cheaper parking
Registered car pooling cars have access to the Green Commuter Car Park, which is charged at only 60% of the usual parking fee. That’s only 90 cents per day.
Halve fuel costs
In these days of rapidly increasing fuel costs, any savings are welcome. On journeys where you car pool, you can save almost 50% off the fuel costs. That’s because the fuel costs to carry two people are almost the same as to carry one person and you share costs equally for the journey. If more than two people car pool, the potential savings are even greater.
Reduce running costs and wear and tear on your car
By car pooling with another driver, you could drive on alternate days and so reduce the wear and tear on your own car. Your insurance and regular maintenance costs could also be cheaper if you become a regular car pooler, because you would drive less distance.
Ensure you get a parking permit
All car poolers are guaranteed a parking permit and to get access to the Green Commuter Car Park. As with any parking permit however, this does not guarantee you’ll get a parking bay.
Reduce your tiredness and stress levels
Driving can make you tired and difficult conditions such as congestion and harsh weather can increase your stress levels. Why start every day fighting traffic, searching for a parking space and arriving tired and stressed? As a car pooler, you could sit back a few days a week and let someone else take the strain, while you relax and take in the scenery or listen to the radio.
Meet new people in your area
Regular car pooling with other staff is a great way to meet people and make new friends.
Reduce traffic congestion
The less cars on the road, the less traffic congestion. If only 5-10% of single occupancy drivers in the metro area shared their car with at least one other person, the trip to work would be faster and less congested for everyone.
Do your bit for the environment
Car exhaust fumes are one of the major contributors to pollution. As well as having an input into global warming, this can also affect people with asthma and other illnesses. You may not feel that just you leaving your car at home can do much to help, but if more car drivers shared their car regularly you’d soon see a difference.
Help ease the demand for oil
Oil is a finite resource, and we’ll run out of it at some point in time. The only question we don’t have a definitive answer for is when. You can help to conserve this precious resource by reducing your fuel usage through car pooling. The more people who car pool, the more we’ll conserve.