The local paper is reporting on a "new" idea for car sharing - lifts.
Not at all sure this could work, nor if people would actually use it. Would you?
Any members out there have a similar scheme working in your part of the country?
(Incidentally, we have just had an August date for the guided bus to open...)
Full story at
www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/New-car-sharing-scheme-would-offer-lifts-from-the-roadside-13062011.htm
Extract:
A ground-breaking new Cambridgeshire car sharing scheme aims to use mobile phone technology to allow commuters to arrange an instant lift from the roadside.
Instead of arranging lifts in advance, eCo-GoGo, which is set to be piloted in the county, will allow people to wait by the roadside and be picked up by fellow members of the scheme.
Driver and passenger will be on the project’s database, providing a measure of security, and a quick text message containing the car’s registration plate triggers a reply containing a special code, which will be matched with one held by the motorist.
Then, when the journey is over, a second text will allow the fare to be paid electronically by the passenger to the driver.
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Taxi drivers won't be pleased and AFAIK, Private hire cars are not allowed to pick up passengers at the roadside so some change in the law would probably be required.
Also the drivers would have to have special insurance as normal policies nearly always exclude use for hire or reward.
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I wonder if those people that loan people their cars for self drive realise they have to change their insurance or the ramifications that could ensue if that driver gets a parking ticket or speeding fine while they are in charge of it?
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There is (or certainly was) just such a lift sharing scheme at The University of Warwick. The nearest town to the campus is Leamington on Spa, and public transport between the two wasn't great. Willing lift givers have a badge (with a picture of a foot istr) to put in the windscreen of the car, and I think lift takers had to show their student passes to confirm their bona fides. Apparently it worked quite well.
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>>
>> Also the drivers would have to have special insurance as normal policies nearly always exclude
>> use for hire or reward.
>>
But I think "contributions to petrol costs" are allowed?
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...But I think "contributions to petrol costs" are allowed?...
I think so, but talk of 'paying the fare' does suggest a bit more than that.
Insurance is such an obvious point, the organisers must have looked into it.
Perhaps it's not really a 'fare' that's paid, just an allowable contribution.
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C21st Hitchhiking - Kithmo
