A Squamish-based technology startup is aiming to change driving behaviour by making it easier, safer and more convenient for people to share rides.
Young local Internet company, Skwez Technology Corp. (pronounced "squeeze") this week launched a online ride-sharing website.
Aimed at regular commuters and occasional travellers, the free service automatically matches people who travel in the same general direction, working through their time constraints.
"We want to make it easy to arrange a shared trip online," said Manuel Zahariev, an 11-year resident of Squamish and the founder of Skwez.
"For most people, the constraints of a long-term carpool are incompatible with their work or lifestyle. If you take away the rigid schedule and long-term commitment, ride sharing can actually be a lot of fun. Few people go through the trouble to arrange sharing a one-off trip because it's just not easy, and most end up driving alone to Vancouver and back."
The launch happens during Canadian Environment Week (May 30 to June 5). June 2 is Clean Air Day and World Environment Day is on June 5.
Skwez is hoping to address the significant environmental impact caused by transportation, which represents a leading source of carbon dioxide, considered the principal contributor to global warming.
Current emissions from transportation using light vehicles are estimated to be more than three billion tons annually, or approximately six per cent of total human emissions. Commuting using a single occupancy vehicle is predominant in the industrialized world.
In Canada, 72.3 per cent of trips to and from work are by lone drivers (75 per cent in the United States and over 80 per cent in Australia).
In small towns in Canada, commuters typically drive twice or three times the distance of the average daily commute.
Carpooling currently accounts for only a modest portion of overall personal transportation. For example, in the U.S., carpooling participation in 2004 was an average 10 per cent, ranging between seven per cent and 16 per cent in different states.
Most people point to the lack of flexibility or control and the effort required to organize a carpool as main reasons not to participate in ride sharing.
The Skwez website, which will be in its "beta" phase during the month of June, is well suited for the needs of Sea to Sky residents, where a substantial portion of the population is moving along the corridor on a daily basis, according to Zahariev.
"Our goal is to build a global community of transportation, where people will have quick and seamless access to shared rides" said Zahariev.
"We want to make it simpler than finding parking downtown. We are at the beginning of a very exciting journey. Join us and we can change the planet. The revolution starts now, right here in Squamish."
For more information or to sign up go to swez.com.
