Last week, I was sad to read in my local paper that an airport shuttle service was closing down after 35 years in the business.  In the Asbury Park Press, you can read the story entitled “Olympic Airporter succumbs to sour economy”.

They will stop operating this Friday (June 19, 2009).  It is a real shame to learn that this inexpensive alternative to taxis or parking at the airport will no longer be available.  Look at some of the many benefits of their service:

• Convenience
• Save gasoline
• Reduce traffic
• Provide good employment
• Help local economy

They currently run 19 trips per day utilizing a fleet of 90 vehicles to service about 16,500 passengers a month.  That is over 500 people a day or almost 200,000 a year.

Now what are their clients options?  They can try other limo companies, but will probably pay more.  They can drive themselves, adding to traffic and paying almost $20 a day to park at the airport.  Or they could share rides.  If all the people that utilized this service got together on a ride sharing web site, they could help each other.  At least something good could come out of this bad situation.

Finally, my heart goes out to the 128 full and part-time employees at Olympic Airporter.  I wish them the best in finding new employment with these difficult economic conditions.

photo credit: Joi

Here are seven web sites that are currently offering online registration for ride sharing:

1. http://www.erideshare.com/ - Carpool and ridesharing website

2. http://www.gishigo.com/ - Ride Share Network

3. http://www.goloco.org/ - An easy way to share trips with your friends

4. http://www.nuride.com/ - Save money and earn rewards

5. http://www.pickuppal.com/ - Connect drivers and passengers

6. http://www.ridester.com/ - Life is a Journey. Share it.

7. http://zimride.com/ - Social rideshare and carpool matching

These seem to be the leaders in this emerging market, but I am sure there are many others.  I applaud each of their efforts to increase ride sharing by building online communities.  Take a look at one or more of the sites to see the many benefits of carpooling and how they address our fear of strangers.

So what is missing?  Convenience.

While they each help facilitate ride sharing, there is a lot of planning involved.  Most of the shared trips are either normal daily carpools to work or one time trips to another city.  I think as these communities grow, we can move toward more on-demand ride sharing. 

My dream is that we could harness much of the unused capacity of passenger vehicles on the road today.  If more people continue to get involved in ride sharing, then there will be more available rides and passengers to fill them.  I know it will take time, but online ride sharing communities are a big step in the right direction.

Cell phones with internet access will make shared transportation even easier.

photo credit: believekevin

The more I research this idea, the more I am amazed that this can not be easily implemented.  Look at all the technological advances we have made in Science, Medicine, Electronics and Computers.  I am humbled by the human spirit.

So why is it so difficult to share rides?  We are currently:

• Investing billions of dollars in new research
• Risking further damage to our fragile ecosystems
• Facing increased Global Warming and Climate Crisis
• Suffering quality of life while stuck in traffic
• Ignoring crumbling bridges & highways

But we can NOT figure out how to get several people to ride together?

Be a hero, save the earth!