On the long holiday drives between my parents home and my own I had an idea that I can’t shake. Governments pour billions into bus systems, and train lines, all to transform our car-culture into a community transportation culture. They have done the math and know the advantages to our infrastructure, economy, and environment that reducing car use would bring.
I have three ideas that would help us reach that conclusion, but instead of greater government expenditure and a major shift in our culture they require only a small shift and applications of technology.
- When I type in an address on google maps/mapquest/yahoo maps it should let me know if there is anyone else going that direction that needs a ride.
- Each highway ramp should have a pulloff to pick up people heading in the same direction.
- When I get in the car at 7:30am my phone should guess that I am going to work and alert me to any new carpoolers on my route.
The advantage of these ideas is they piggyback on successful technology and don’t require much on the uptake. Like the old “hitchhiker-thumb” method, any new ride-sharing culture must easily integrate into our current routines.
What other good ideas do you have?