Carpooling initiative on the right track

An internet-based carpooling initiative is proving increasingly popular with Waikato and Hamilton commuters.

Hamilton City Council has been involved in www.letscarpool.govt.nz since July: the website allows commuters to register as seeking other carpoolers in their communities with who they can share rides.

The major benefit for carpoolers is reduced travel costs – a commuter who carpools from Cambridge to Hamilton can save up to $30 a week.

Councillor Daphne Bell, chair of Council’s Sustainability Working Group, says 149 people in the Waikato have registered since Council began promoting the scheme in July.

“The initiative is still relatively new, but the interest from commuters around the region is very encouraging,” Cr Bell says.

“We’re seeing registration of would-be carpoolers from a number of smaller Waikato and King Country towns, such as Cambridge, Thames, Morrinsville, Raglan and Ngaruawahia. Our Sustainable Travel team say there is even a carpooler in Tauranga searching for ride-shares to and from Hamilton.”

The most popular destinations for www.letscarpool.govt.nz members are Waikato University, Waikato Hospital, and Wintec.

Cr Bell urges employers to point their staff to www.letscarpool.govt.nz.

“Carpooling is a cheap, effective and efficient way of getting several employees to work together – and it will ease the pressure on carparks at the workplace!