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2010-03-20

2010-03-16

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:39 AM

Carpooling commuters cut costs, live greener by riding together

Carpooling is one solution many commuters are considering as gas prices continue their steep rise.

Cutting gas expenses in half or better by carpooling makes good sense. Ottawans commute an average of 21 minutes per day according to the latest census. That means lots of folks are heading toward Lawrence, Kansas City, Emporia, Topeka and Burlington, among other destinations. With that many folks driving so far, sharing a ride makes for a cleaner environment and saves money.

An area carpool connection Web site, sponsored by the Lawrence Transit Authority, includes an online calculator to determine possible savings from alternative transportation to school and/or work. The savings for the average 21-mile commute would be $22.72 per day; $113.61 per week or $5,680.50 per year for those participating in a carpool five days per week. Escalating gas prices would deepen those savings.

An added benefit is a reduction in carbon monoxide emissions. The reduction would be .47 pounds per day; 2.34 pounds per week and 117.13 pounds annually by carpooling.

Vanpooling with a group of others or even taking the bus can reduce costs and carbon monoxide emissions, too. Go to www.marc.greenride.com to determine your own possible savings.

Of course, those with shorter commutes have other options with other benefits than saving money and the environment. Walking or biking can help people expend calories and result in a healthier body, too.

Confused about how to start? Put a classified ad in the newspaper seeking a carpool partner for your destination community, starting and ending time each day and your willingness to drive or ride and share expenses. You may be on your way to savings.

Franklin County’s daytime population changes by a net of 14 percent each day, according to the 2000 Census, with more than 40 percent of workers — nearly 5,000 residents — leaving the county to go to work and about 26 percent of workers coming in from outside of the county for employment each workday.

As a point of comparison, 60 percent of workers from Osage County leave the county for work each day, including nearly 400 workers coming to Franklin County, and 39 percent of Anderson County residents are outbound workers.

Those numbers all add up to lots of potential gas savings by carpooling. The little bit of convenience can add up to significant savings.

— Jeanny Sharp, editor and publisher

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Carpooling commuters cut costs, live greener by riding together

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.