3/8/2010
RE-SENDING: (PREVIOUS RELEASE INCOMPLETE) New Rideshare Web site makes carpool matching easier for Idahoans
BOISE - More than 1,230 Idahoans take advantage of Idaho's free rideshare program - RideshareOnline.com. This week, the ride-matching experience just got better, thanks to the launch of a new Web site.
Both individuals seeking
ride matches and organizations managing regional or internal employee programs
will be better able to personalize, track and manage their Rideshare matches.
"The new Web site is a
significant improvement to what existed previously," said Randy Kyrias, Idaho
Transportation Department (ITD) Division of Public Transportation
administrator. "There are a number
of expanded ridesharing features and the new School Pool and Bike Buddy
features offer matching opportunities outside of the regular commuter
demographic."
New site features include:
- Bike Buddies,
ride-matching for cyclists looking to ride to work or ride the trails on the
weekends
- School Pool,
carpool matching tool for parents looking for carpool matches to get their kids
to and from school
- Home page
personalization and branding
- Dynamic (same
day), one-way, one-time, and long distance ride-matching
- Event planning
with improved capabilities for single event and dynamic ride-matching to help
minimize the travel hassles of commuting to large and small events like sports
events, concerts, conferences or weddings
- Map-based
origin/destination and along-the-route matching
- Ability for
organizations to create, promote and administer their own commute incentive
management programs entirely within the site
- Greater self
service features for vanpool formation and ease of administration
Idaho's Rideshare program
license was purchased in 2008 by ITD. Previously, the program was only available in Ada and Blaine
counties.
"ITD purchased the statewide
license in order to provide more Idahoans additional transportation options," Kyrias said. "Ridesharing is just
as relevant for people living in rural areas driving to and from work, school
and other activities as it is to those living in more populated areas of the
state. Everyone is concerned about
gas prices, other costs associated with vehicle maintenance and traffic
congestion. Ridesharing is a
simple solution to all of those things."
Commuters and
organizations interested in learning more about Idaho's Rideshare program can
contact Brian Shea at Brian.Shea@itd.idaho.gov or at (800) 527-7985.