Real-time ridesharing is here! Would you rideshare, if it were convenient? Maybe? Would you rideshare for a reward? Did I get you attention? Who is rewarded? Drivers earn rewards and riders save money. This sounds like a no hassle carpool. Where do I sign up?
Currently, it is only offered in the Seattle area for the SR 520 highway. It is called g0520 Real-Time Ridesharing and they are matching drivers and riders in real-time. This is real-time ridesharing program to share a ride whenever and wherever you want. What do I need to do? You need a smart phone, an app and GPS does the rest. Avego Corporation offers go520 application. Drivers earn money and riders save money. All the benefits of carpooling without the hassles! The biggest benefit is the driver is now eligible to ride in the HOV lane. Commuters from downtown Seattle or to downtown Seattle can benefit as a driver or rider.
How does it work? You must sign up and you will instantly find out if someone requests a ride. As a driver, if you picked up three (3) riders you could earn average $2-300 per month. You get to rate each other on a 5 point system. If either rider or driver receives a low rating, you will never be matched again. All you need is a Windows Phone 7 device or iPhone and pick up riders along the route.
Riders pay for the ride, but receive credits and other incentives for ridesharing. No cash is exchanged between riders and drivers. Pick up and drop off locations are never residential addresses, but the closest public stop location or a busy location. Self policing rating system and driver safety protects everyone involved. All participants are registered in the system and matches can be restricted by gender or user rating.
Sounds like everyone benefits! You can make some money as a driver to reduce your gas costs and riders save some money. You get to use the HOV lane which means a faster commute. Sound like a win/win to me. I am looking forward to it catching on and coming to a city near me soon! It is almost motivating me to get a smart phone. Would you participate? Is real-time ridesharing in your future? Lets put this out on the social network and create a ground swell to bring it to a city near you. What do you think? Real-time ridesharing is here!
Photo by: janelleorsi
I think it is a very good ‘green’ experiment! You save, time and money and this is good for the environment. I really hope this catches on!
It is green, reduces traffic congestion and convenient!
It is green, reduces traffic congestion and convenient!
It is green, reduces traffic congestion and convenient!
It is green, reduces traffic congestion and convenient!
It is green, reduces traffic congestion and convenient!
It is green, reduces traffic congestion and convenient!
I heard about something like this on NPR a while back. I think it was something to do with hitchhiking though. The driver got all kind of weirdos. 😉
This one sounds like a great program. I don’t know if it will work in Portland because we only have car pool lanes on I5. Other freeways do not have any….
There seems to be a rating system on driver and rider which should keep out the weirdos. I think any support for reducing traffic congestion is good. Building additional freeways is not working because it takes so long to build it.
The rating system is cool.. that really puts it over the top. So you pay for service monthly? Do only riders pay?
Yes, drivers earn money! There are a lot of incentives for the riders that help offset the cost. I like the ratings idea because I can not imagine being stuck with somebody I can’t stand.
I hope this catches on in other parts of the country it will be a win-win-win for the drivers-riders and the environment. I will adapt it in a heart beat. I have used ride sharing that matches drivers and riders before hand. It will be interesting to see how to works in real time. And what will happen if they cannot find me anyone 🙂
Good question. My guess it would be a timing issue, it may take a day or two. It may be a bigger issue if you do not like the driver or rider.
Wow, I like that idea!! The biggest hassle of carpooling is coordinating people’s schedules. Will real-time information, that hassle is gone! I like it. I hope Atlanta gets it!
If it proves popular in Seattle, I suspect it will spread.
I think we’ll see more of this type of community sharing in the future, especially with chronic traffic congestion and expensive energy. I would do it in a heartbeat, both driving and riding.
It certainly makes it convenient! If it is popular in Seattle, I expect it will spread.
LOVE seeing this type of organization when it comes to increasing the efficiency of our day to day travel. I think we will be seeing more of this type of ride share throughout the country if all goes well. Its about time that we began looking for ways to not only reduce the amount of cars on the road, but also the amount it costs us each to get to where we’re going each day. Thank you for sharing, I look forward to reviewing more about this system in the future.
If it is popular in Seattle, I suspect it will spread. Let’s hope so.
Thank God I don’t have to commute to my current job. It is right in town, 3.2 miles away. I commuted for ever 25 years and I don’t miss it one bit.
I used to drive more than hour each way and I do not miss it either. A few of my commutes, I was able to carpool. It makes it a little more enjoyable. Ridesharing would be another choice.