If you’ve ever experienced the burning hell of a highway traffic jam on vacation or played sardines on buses, trains, and the metro, don’t wait any longer. In anticipation of August 15, which promises to be difficult for return trips, it is necessary to deal with the situation proactively. And to do it collectively. For this, carpooling is the ideal alternative for those who want to ease their wallets from the exorbitant price of diesel, or make a small gesture for the environment. Numerous websites offer this type of service, and there is no shortage of offers. Notably on equipage06.fr, a site launched by the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes. The principle is to connect drivers and passengers for long or regular trips. A regular user of the site, Alain Sanchez testifies: “It is a considerable advantage when it comes to crossing Nice every morning to go to work. The sharing of costs is not negligible, and it allows you not to travel alone.”
A growing system
Several other internet references for carpooling can then be mentioned. The trick is blossoming online: covoiturage.com; easycovoiturage.com; comove.com or laroueverte.com. All these sites have shown exponential visitor growth for the year 2008, with some experiencing as much as 45% more visitors. Thomas Herlin, founder of covoiturage.com, explains the reasons for this trend: “More and more households have an ADSL connection and thus an internet reflex. But the most obvious causes are the rise in oil prices and the complexity of urban networks. Public transport users also had a tough time during the railway worker strikes. Carpooling is, in this case, the most reliable solution.”
With the increase in train and plane prices, carpooling tackles the financial problem as well as the issue of public transport crowding. The latter are also known to be unreliable when it comes to leaving the PACA region. Thus, if you wish to travel to Paris, a journey relatively poorly served by the SNCF, you might find yourself in the company of Hervรฉ Vasseur, a regular user of the site covoiturage.com: “I like hitting the road and meeting people. I regularly make the Paris-Nice trip for my work. In my Trafic, I can take up to seven passengers. I significantly offset my expenses and make a little extra money. It is rare for people to stand you up.”
Finally, driving a car becomes a real matter of conscience. In 2008, road transport represented 79% of France’s energy balance, compared to 71% in 1973. Over a century and a half, the global passenger traffic has increased from 1500 to 4500 kilometers per year per person. As a result, fuel consumption accounts for 35% of global CO2 emissions. So, while waiting for the first “non-polluting” cars around 2012, the simplest means are often welcome. And for those who also want to stay in shape this summer, it’s time to take the bike out of the garage.
