3/3/2009
Rideshare participation increases 340 percent
Commuters making use of statewide mobility resource
BOISE - Idaho's Rideshare program has experienced a 340 percent increase in participation in less than one year, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced. Rideshare offers carpooling and vanpooling in which vehicles carry additional passengers.
ITD funded Idaho's Rideshareonline.com licensing to enable access for the entire state last May. Previously available only in the Wood River Valley and Treasure Valley, the statewide access has allowed usage to grow from 200 users to more than 880.
"The increase in participation allows for more ride-matches for commuters throughout Idaho," says Randy Kyrias of ITD's Division of Public Transportation. "The ride sharing service tends to have the lowest cost per passenger-mile of any motorized mode of transportation."
Rideshareonline.com uses computerized partner-matching to track each commuter's origin, destination, schedule and special needs. Carpooling uses participants' own automobiles while vanpooling usually uses vans provided by employers, non-profit organizations or government agencies. Potential users can log onto the Rideshareonline.com Web site to find ride matches fitting their needs and locations.
To learn more about rideshare, log onto www.rideshareonline.com or call ITD's Division of Public Transportation at (800) 527-7985.