New drive to boost carpooling numbers

Carpooling could be the way of the future, with younger people most likely to adopt the scheme and the development of a new app possibly boosting its popularity.

In the last year, 85 per cent of trips in Auckland were by private car, with 43,000 more vehicles on the roads said Auckland Transport’s travel demand manager Melanie Alexander.

“In Auckland we have a very low occupancy rate in vehicles. On average there is one [or] two people in a car.”

Let’s Carpool is one attempt by Auckland Transport to address the situation. It supports carpool users with carparks, priority and transit lanes. At last count, it had almost 5000 people registered.

The movement had contributed to the removal of 33,570 cars from the roads during morning peak traffic and the reduction of the number of cars on Auckland’s roads each day by 6714. It meant a 5582 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.

Researchers estimate that transport-related air pollution results in 253 deaths a year in Auckland.

Sustainability was one of the main motivations for people to carpool, Mrs Alexander said.

“Carpooling is good for the environment mainly because you are taking off additional journeys, reducing the number of cars on the road, which should reduce the number of emissions.”

Green Party list MP Julie Anne Genter said high levels of car use have different impacts on the environment and people’s health. “This can only be addressed by reducing cars on the road.”

People aged between 18 and 35 – most of them students – were the most likely to carpool. To make the movement more attractive in the future Ms Genter suggested looking at options with new technology to make it easier for people to be part of a system, which they can check on their mobile phone.

Her idea resonates with AT: Mrs Alexander said Let’s Carpool was currently working on a mobile app.

Tian Tan, 24, coaches gymnastics daily, and carpools whenever he can, usually from his home in Pakuranga to the gym in Glen Innes.

“One of the main reasons I want to carpool is for the environment, just to save petrol and reduce cars on the road.”