More local governments are offering perks for employees that carpool, but many would-be beneficiaries say extra gas money isn’t worth the hassle of catching a ride with a co-worker.
Free parking and designated premium spots are some of the new incentives Baltimore County officials announced this week for employees who carpool with at least two other buddies. With gas prices at $3.50 per gallon, employees with a 35-mile round trip commute spend more than $5,300 annually on gas, parking and car maintenance, said the county’s s newly appointed sustainability director David Carroll.
“Somebody driving to Towson from one of the neighboring counties could be spending upwards of $7,000 annually,” Carroll said. “Between the cost savings, and reduced environmental impact, car pooling makes a lot of sense.”
The program, called BCRider, guarantees a ride home for emergencies or unscheduled overtime, most likely via taxis, officials said.
The program adds Baltimore County to a growing list of local governments offering incentives for carpooling. In August, Howard County launched a new online ride matching program.
But many employees said, often, carpooling just isn’t practical. In a poll last week, Gasbuddy.com asked motorists if they are using public transportation or carpooling more due to higher fuel prices.
Nearly half aren’t, or are driving more.
“What if you’re running late and someone’s waiting for you, of they’ve overslept and you’re at their mercy?” said Michelle Herget, a civilian employee of the Baltimore County police department. “And people get off work at different times.”
Herget said she’s far more likely to take advantage of a 4-day workweek, a “sustainable” strategy under study in Baltimore County and Baltimore City and implemented in Howard County earlier this year.
Still, about 35 percent of respondents to Gasbuddy’s survey said carpooling is an option currently unavailable to them. Brian Bass, RideSearch.com, a free online nationwide carpool matching system, said about 25 new users a day has spiked to 100 since May.
“Four dollars a gallon can equal $1 if you have three other people in the car,” Bass said.
