Carpooling Cool in the Back Forty
An informational meeting to help West County people set up carpools is set for next Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at Stillwaters Restaurant, reported the Recorder.
The meeting, planned by Stillwaters owner Michael Phelps, aims to introduce selectmen, business and religious leaders and anyone else interested to MassRides, a state program offering computer matching to help promote car pooling.
In West County, where the population is spread out and where 77 percent of workers drive alone to work, according to the 2000 Census figures, Phelps figured carpooling could help put some money back in people’s pockets, and back into the local economy.
“When you don’t have pocket money, the first things to go are going out to eat, going out to a movie and getting presents for people,” the business owner said.
The result would be the state’s first community-based carpooling initiative, built on people registering with the free carpool match service. He will provide free refreshments at the meeting and hopes other businesses will join him in offering discounts to people who sign up to share rides. The nine-town sub-region has about 10,500 people spread out over more than 200 square miles, but the state initiative’s technology makes it easy to generate potential matches.
MassRides, which primarily works with employers, including colleges, to promote ride-sharing, helps people tailor carpooling around their schedules, destinations and common meeting places, said Phelps, who sent out more than 300 invitations to the event.
The meeting, planned by Stillwaters owner Michael Phelps, aims to introduce selectmen, business and religious leaders and anyone else interested to MassRides, a state program offering computer matching to help promote car pooling.
In West County, where the population is spread out and where 77 percent of workers drive alone to work, according to the 2000 Census figures, Phelps figured carpooling could help put some money back in people’s pockets, and back into the local economy.
“When you don’t have pocket money, the first things to go are going out to eat, going out to a movie and getting presents for people,” the business owner said.
The result would be the state’s first community-based carpooling initiative, built on people registering with the free carpool match service. He will provide free refreshments at the meeting and hopes other businesses will join him in offering discounts to people who sign up to share rides. The nine-town sub-region has about 10,500 people spread out over more than 200 square miles, but the state initiative’s technology makes it easy to generate potential matches.
MassRides, which primarily works with employers, including colleges, to promote ride-sharing, helps people tailor carpooling around their schedules, destinations and common meeting places, said Phelps, who sent out more than 300 invitations to the event.
posted by Max Hartshorne at 12:11 AM
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