Do you regularly drive to work on your own? Sharing your journey with a colleague or someone travelling in the same direction could help you save money, reduce your environmental impact and make your commute more enjoyable.
Even sharing once or twice a week can make a difference. Here are some of the benefits.
Save money
Sharing the cost of fuel and parking can make commuting more affordable, particularly if you travel a long distance to work.
You could take turns driving or agree to contribute towards the cost of a journey. The amount you save will depend on how often you share, the distance travelled and the arrangements you make.
Why not use Liftshare’s savings calculator to see how much you could save?
Reduce CO₂ emissions
When two or more people share one car instead of travelling separately, they can reduce the number of vehicles on the road and the emissions associated with their journeys.
Even sharing occasionally can help reduce the environmental impact of your commute.
Make your commute more enjoyable
Driving to work every day can sometimes be tiring or stressful.
Sharing your journey gives you the opportunity to relax as a passenger when someone else is driving, enjoy some company and make your commute more sociable.
Help reduce congestion
Fewer cars making the same journeys can help reduce traffic congestion, particularly during busy commuting periods.
While one shared journey might seem like a small change, more people choosing to share regularly could make a positive difference to local traffic levels.
Reduce parking demand
Sharing a car also means fewer vehicles need parking spaces at workplaces and other destinations.
This can be particularly helpful where parking is limited, making spaces more readily available for those who need them.
Find a car-sharing companion
You don’t have to know someone who makes exactly the same journey as you to give car sharing a try.
Online journey-matching services, such as Liftshare, can help you find other people travelling in a similar direction.
Car sharing isn’t just for commuting either. You could share journeys to college, sporting events, concerts or other destinations.
Take a look at our article on finding a car-sharing companion to find out how to get started.