The concept of a car share is not a new one but one which is being encouraged as a way to reduce congestion and pollution. To car share simply means to travel with at least one other person whether it be to work, the shops or school, and it can also be known as a lift share or car pool.
Some employers run car share schemes to encourage their employees to commute with someone else. From the company’s point of view this has the added benefit of reducing the number of parking spaces required for staff. Companies such as Boots, Orange and Prudential have pioneered the idea of a car share scheme with excellent results.
If you wish to car share, however, it does not necessarily have to be with someone who works for the same company. You could also car share with someone who works in the same vicinity, and don’t forget the option of car sharing for other trips from travelling to events to doing the weekly shop. Many areas of the UK now have car share schemes which allow you to get together with people doing similar journeys to you. The Car Share website is a directory of UK car sharing sites. There are also sites such as National Car Share which you can join as a way of finding people with whom to share.
The government is starting to encourage the practice of car sharing with two dedicated car share motorway lanes planned. The first will be a mile-long stretch at the junction of the M62 with the M606 which will be ready in 2007. The second is between junctions 7 and 10 of the M1 which will be completed in 2008. Lanes like these are already found in Europe and America but, up until now, there have only been three short stretches of car share lane on local authority roads in England. For more information visit the Highways Agency
