Carpooling
Carpooling: Pros, Cons, and How to Stay Safe
by Higgins Bealing on 19 November 2011
I have been an avid carpooler for nearly three years now. I carpool to and from work with colleagues each day, in addition to finding one-off travel companions for long weekend trips. I’ve pretty much seen it all, from the intensely inspiring conversations that blossom into great friendships to the insanely inconsiderate travel mates whose idea of a good time is stinking up my car with tuna melts and forcing me to listen to hours of endless rubbish on the radio. Moreover, I’ve learned how to stay safe while sharing the road with strangers. I’ve decided to jot down what I have found to be the pros and cons of carpooling, followed by some essentialsafety tips if you decide to take up the hippy-tastic art of carpooling.
PRO: Save Some Green – In More Ways Than One!
I decided to carpool primarily for financial reasons. I’d just signed a three-year lease on a Honda Civic, and I was only allowed to travel 15,000 miles a year before I’d be charged some serious penalties upon trade-in. I ran the numbers, added in some extra miles for weekend trips, and saw that I would never come close to being under the 45,000 mile mark in three years. Carpooling has saved me money on my lease, but it can also save car owners money that would be spent on wear-and-tear related issues including oil changes and gasoline. And for those individuals sans-wheels, it’s a perfect solution to get to where you need to go.
Carpooling also helps save money on parking, tolls, and other expenditures. And it’s wise to ask your insurance provider about discounts that you may be entitled to if you report yourself as a rideshare participant. I save a substantial amount in insurance payments this way.
And let’s not forget the environment — it just makes sense to limit our nasty emissions when possible. According to the Sightline Institute, the average car emits 1.10 lbs of CO2 per mile. When you carpool, an
by Higgins Bealing on 19 November 2011
I have been an avid carpooler for nearly three years now. I carpool to and from work with colleagues each day, in addition to finding one-off travel companions for long weekend trips. I’ve pretty much seen it all, from the intensely inspiring conversations that blossom into great friendships to the insanely inconsiderate travel mates whose idea of a good time is stinking up my car with tuna melts and forcing me to listen to hours of endless rubbish on the radio. Moreover, I’ve learned how to stay safe while sharing the road with strangers. I’ve decided to jot down what I have found to be the pros and cons of carpooling, followed by some essentialsafety tips if you decide to take up the hippy-tastic art of carpooling.
PRO: Save Some Green – In More Ways Than One!
I decided to carpool primarily for financial reasons. I’d just signed a three-year lease on a Honda Civic, and I was only allowed to travel 15,000 miles a year before I’d be charged some serious penalties upon trade-in. I ran the numbers, added in some extra miles for weekend trips, and saw that I would never come close to being under the 45,000 mile mark in three years. Carpooling has saved me money on my lease, but it can also save car owners money that would be spent on wear-and-tear related issues including oil changes and gasoline. And for those individuals sans-wheels, it’s a perfect solution to get to where you need to go.
Carpooling also helps save money on parking, tolls, and other expenditures. And it’s wise to ask your insurance provider about discounts that you may be entitled to if you report yourself as a rideshare participant. I save a substantial amount in insurance payments this way.
And let’s not forget the environment — it just makes sense to limit our nasty emissions when possible. According to the Sightline Institute, the average car emits 1.10 lbs of CO2 per mile. When you carpool, an