Yesterday, Elaine - my carpool partner - and I both drove in alone because she had an after-work dinner planned.
After the dinner got cancelled, she emailed me and offered me a ride home, event though it meant driving me home- which is 4 miles north of her house. This morning, I walked a mile to meet Elaine and Bette at "the rotary" for a ride to work. My car spent the night at work and I'll drive myself and Bette home tonight.
Yes, I saved the gas and wear-and-tear on my car, and I got to spend time with Elaine, who has become a friend. We cut down on congestion [and traffic was backed up last night on Route 9] and air pollution.
Most people only think about solving big problems like congestion and air pollution in terms of "What's in it for me?" Many people refuse to sacrifice personal convenience for carpooling. Driving alone is THE most convenient way to get around -- as long as there's not too much congestion and the air is still clean enough to breathe.
Sadly, most people delay changing until we feel PAIN.
The pain can be:
Financial -- $4/gallon gas,
Time -- sitting in traffic -- build more HOV lanes to reward carpoolers,
or Environmental -- which takes decades to accumulate.
In the meantime, carpoolers get many rewards --
Financial -- Carpoolers save money.
Time -- Carpoolers can sleep or read when someone else drives.
Environmental -- Carpoolers have a clean conscience. Very clean and low-carbon.
And there's the friendship factor. There are a dozen reasons for carpools to fall apart, the prime one being: a carpool will only work if you don't like your carpool partner. Otherwise, forget it!
It really helps to live and work near each other and to work the same hours.
Liking each other can be the lubricant to work out many other inconveniences.
When you like someone, you call and offer a ride all the way home so you can pay her back for the ride she gave you earlier in the week.
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