Ridesharing Can Help Commuters With Rising Gasoline Costs

OAKLAND, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- With oil prices exceeding $105 per barrel mark, Bay Area residents now have a greater incentive to consider carpooling or vanpooling to work. By ridesharing, commuters lower their costs by spending less on gasoline and taking advantage of free bridge tolls.

511 Rideshare offers Bay Area commuters a FREE RideMatch Service that makes carpooling easy. As soon as commuters sign up, they receive an e-mail with a list of potential carpool partners who live and work nearby. Additionally, people interested in starting or joining a vanpool can find information on the site.

Ridesharing is not only a great way to cut commuting costs and beat traffic congestion, it is a fun alternative to drive-alone commuting. Currently, 511 Rideshare is partnering with Beach Blanket Babylon, to demonstrate that ridesharing can be entertaining and enjoyable. Through March 14, solo drivers who sign up for the FREE RideMatch Service will have a chance to win tickets to Beach Blanket Babylon.

For details about the 511 RideMatch Service or the Beach Blanket Ticket promotion, go to: 511.org (http://www.511.org/home.asp).

About 511 Rideshare:

With an expanding RideMatch database of more than 14,000 San Francisco Bay Area people, 511 Rideshare helps commuters find other drivers to carpool or vanpool together. 511 Rideshare also advises and assists Bay Area companies in planning and formulating customized employer-organized commute programs. Its mission is to reduce traffic congestion, clean the air, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

511 Rideshare is a free Web/phone service funded by the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and county congestion management agencies. Qualifying carpools can cross Bay Area toll bridges free of charge during commute hours. For more information, visit rideshare.511.org (http://rideshare.511.org/).

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: 511 Rideshare

CONTACT: Kit Powis, Communications and Public Relations Manager of 511
Rideshare, Office, +1-510-273-3650, Cell, +1-510-220-0364,
powis@rideshare.511.org

Web site: http://www.511.org/home.asp
http://rideshare.511.org/

2008-03-06 19:05:12 0306928 PRNEWSWIRE