The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency is preparing to launch a free Web-based carpooling program this fall.
"With gas prices so high, we feel like this is the perfect time to launch it," said Greg Youell, transportation planner for the agency.
The plan comes as new U.S. Census Bureau data indicate that more people than ever are driving alone to wo
In Douglas County in 2005, 83 percent of workers drove alone to work. More people walked than road buses.
He recently demonstrated how it would work:
A person would create a profile on the Web site in English or Spanish, entering starting and destination points. He or she would select gender and smoking preferences, commute days and enter an e-mail address.
The program then instantly generates potential matches. If the user sees a good match, the program would send an e-mail to the other car pooler. The program also will create a map and approximate driving directions.
No home or e-mail addresses or other personal information appears online. Youell said the site will have a safety disclaimer; he suggested meeting with a potential match in a public place before carpooling.
