Eqstra Fleet Management (EFM) has unveiled a Web site that helps commuters find and set up lift clubs.
EFM conducted research before setting up Best Lift Club, and found there was a “considerable demand for a lift club service”. The company says 62% of respondents said an online database of motorists in their neighbourhood would be appealing, and 69% said they would welcome a similar database showing motorists in their company.
Commuters can register on the site for free. The site lets users search for lift clubs, start their own lift club, or search for other members who use the same route. It also features a handy calculator, which lets commuters calculate travel costs and carbon savings.
According to EFM, the introduction of the service is being accompanied by an initial registration drive. “Once critical mass is reached, route-matching notifications will be delivered to everyone registered on the site to enable clubs to get up and running,” the company adds.
Government go-ahead
Vadi says the most exciting thing about the project is that it promotes public transport and encourages corporates to set up pick-up points between Gautrain stations and their offices. “This will encourage more employees to make use of the Gautrain daily,” says Vadi.
Going green
EFM says that in the context of COP 17, to be hosted in Durban this year, as well as the Carbon Tax Green Paper, “it is imperative that companies find initiatives that will assist to offset their carbon emissions”. In addition to saving on petrol and toll costs, commuters who use lift clubs reduce carbon emissions, says EFM.
Best Lift Club is a member of Carbon Protocol South Africa, a non-profit organisation that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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