Drive less, smile more!

Time to "pool it!"

I often struggle trying to pick topics that others will care about related to the environment because even though I think there are lots of pressing issues not everyone will agree with me. This post was inspired during a conversation with a classmate of mine.

Carpooling, WHY NOT?

Personally, I carpool from Tues-Thurs with some friends of mine, we save money on gas, reduce our impact on the environment and let's face it, you're going to be judged less by others if you're singing/dancing in the the car with friends vs. alone. (although I totally sing and dance alone, regardless of others watching me)

According to Environment Canada, overall transportation represents the largest single source of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 27% of the total.

Let's talk $$$

• Carpooling allows you to share the cost of gas and parking, cutting your expenses by nearly 50% or more; the more occupants in your carpool the more you save.
• The Canadian Automobile Association reports the average yearly cost to operate a car can be as much as $9,000 year, or nearly $25 per day!
• The average carpooler can cut out as much as $600 each month on the cost of their commuting drive
• About 18% of a person’s monthly budget it taken up in car maintenance, repairs, and gas.
• The total amount of money saved by carpooling every year is $1.1 billion.

Environmental Impact

• Having fewer cars on the road means reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and improved air quality.
• By carpooling just twice a week, 1,600 pounds of greenhouse gases can be kept out of the air each year.
• If 100 people were to take advantage of the carpool option every day, more than of 1,320 pounds of carbon monoxide and 2,376,000 pounds of carbon dioxide could be removed from the air.
• Carpooling means fewer cars on the road each day which means less oil usage, and this can help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil.

Other advantages

• You get to use the Carpool Lane!
• Carpooling is a great way to make new friends!
• If everyone opted to carpool just one day a week, the traffic on the nation’s major highways and roads would be reduced by as much as 20%.
• Carpooling means fewer cars on the road each day which means less oil usage, and this can help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil.
• Your health also benefits from carpooling; The congestion and volume of traffic on the roads are a major source of stress for many drivers. Studies show that those who commute by means other than a single-occupancy vehicle demonstrate lower levels of stress, higher morale, and lower blood pressure.            

If you would like to carpool but don't know anyone you can carpool with, visit carpool.ca. This new program can assist in the formation and management of carpools.