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Y! MyWebRideshare trying to expand throughout Champaign County
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Urbana, Ohio — A program that is offering possible savings for area drivers is trying to attract more participants in Champaign County.
Representatives from Rideshare are meeting with government and business officials in Champaign County to create more awareness for the program. Rideshare is a federally funded program that tries to connect residents who are interested in carpooling.
Rideshare has been around for about 20 years, but rising gas prices have led them to make a new push to create awareness in Champaign County, said Eric Ottoson, transportation planner for the Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee. More than 100 residents in Clark, Logan and Champaign counties are signed up in the database now, he said.
"We felt that we needed to publicize it more because of the perceived interest because of the cost of fuel," he said.
The organization visited the Champaign County commissioners and talked to employees at Rittal Corporation, a company that manufactures industrial enclosures in Urbana, Bobbie Jo Hemry, a human resources manager at the company, said she asked the organization to speak to workers on the first shift earlier this month. With the rising gas prices, she said it was a way to let employees know about more options to get to work.
"It's important to make sure our employees can get here at a reduced cost," she said.
The program can lead to big savings for some residents, Ottoson said. By splitting gas costs with other drivers, residents could save hundreds of dollars each year, he said.
Those who register with the program are asked to provide a starting location, a destination, and work or school hours. Residents are then sent a list and contact information of other drivers with similar routes and hours. Other details are worked out among those in the vehicle.
Ottoson said he's hoping the program gets another boost later this year when the program plans to purchase a new software that will allow it to hook up with other carpool programs near Cincinnati and Columbus, as well as help communities keep their residents.
"That's certainly advantageous to the communities they're living in," he said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.
