Calgary drivers cool to carpools

A Calgary campaign encouraging drivers to share their rides in a bid to help the environment and save a little cash is struggling to win over motorists.

Ron Schafer, a transportation demand specialist for the city, says about 40 per cent of Calgarians make one-person car trips to get to work. Another 42 per cent travel by public transit, while less than 10 per cent use carpools.

Some motorists said convenience is a prime consideration, noting they sometimes have to run errands or make extra stops. Commuter Bill Wattman said he prefers to travel on his own according to his own schedule.

"I like to get in early, leave early, so then you've got to co-ordinate everything together so it's not convenient for me," he said.

Co-ordination difficult

'I am disappointed that more people don't take an active role in trying to get towards a solution.' Doris Ivers, commuter

Other commuters, like Doris Ivers, said they've tried in earnest to co-ordinate a carpool with no luck. Ivers said she plans on putting up posters to meet potential carpoolers.

"I am disappointed that more people don't take an active role in trying to get towards a solution," she said.

Ivers said she registered with the carpooling website promoted by the city six months ago but the experience has been frustrating.

"Possibly they've moved or they don't work in the downtown area anymore," she said. "Or some of the information is inconclusive as to the area that they live in [in] order to make the matches for the carpool."

Schafer said the database is managed and checked every three months, but Ivers said her searches proved futile.

Advocates say carpooling reduces highway congestion, saves commuters money and reduces driver stress. The City of Calgary estimates carpooling results in the reduction of 7,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.