Sharing a ride
Whether you are heading off to work or a social event, sharing a ride is a smart travel choice.
Find out here how to join or set up and maintain your own car pool, and how you will save on your fuel costs.
On this page
How you benefit from sharing a ride
Car pooling (ride sharing) is simply sharing a car instead of always driving your own.
Key benefits
- Sharing a ride reduces each passenger's transport costs.
- Sharing means there are fewer cars on the road.
- Fewer cars on the road mean less polluting emissions.
- It can also save on your parking costs.
If you know other people going to the same sport or social event when you are, think about organising to share.
If you are making the same trip regularly, such as to work, think about organising a regular car pool. You don't have to car pool every day of the week but every trip does make a difference.
How much does it cost to use your car?
Do you really know how much it costs to use your car?
Have a look at the online calculator in the section Calculate your fuel economy.
Then work out how much you will save by reducing the number of trips you make in your car.
For current petrol prices, check at Price Watch. [Price Watch website.]
Take action
Join a car pool
Register online to find one-off or regular carpools in your area. Try one of the websites listed below under More information.
Organise a car pool
Use your work noticeboard or intranet to find others who live in your area and who are interested in car pooling. You might also have friends or neighbours who travel in the same direction as you at around the same times. Ask around.
Some workplaces encourage carpool planning using their intranet or have implemented a workplace travel plan for their staff. Examples of these are listed under Regional initiatives.
Tips for happy car pooling
1. Be flexible
Make your arrangements work for everyone. Arrange to car pool one day a week or fortnight if that suits the group.
2. Make group ground rules
Agree on some ground rules so everyone is happy. Consider these things:
- radio on or off – which station(s)?
- smoking or no smoking
- conversation topics
- use of mobile phones or electronic devices
- passengers reading, doing paperwork.
3. Plan your trip
Make arrangements for sick days, leave or emergencies. Agree in advance about sharing the driving, and fuel and parking costs. Don't make or request detours, such as stopping for errands.
4. Be on time
Be on time, whether driving or being picked up. If you can't make it, call in plenty of time so others can make alternative arrangements.
5. Don’t run on empty
When it’s your turn to drive make sure there's lots of fuel in the tank and that your car is running well. No one wants extra stops on the way.
6. Drive safely!
More information
Carpool websites
- Carpool New Zealand [Carpool New Zealand rideshare website.]
- Carpool NZ [Carpool NZ website.]
- Ride Info NZ [Ride Info NZ website.]
- Wises New Zealand street maps [Wises website.]
National strategies
- Workplace travel plan coordinator’s guide [Land Transport NZ website.]