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Carpooling and vanpooling are both optional modes of transportation. Carpooling means different things to different people: Commuters can carpool to their places of work, parents can carpool children to and from school and to sporting and recreational activities, and students and commuters can carpool by hitching rides through ride-share programs. Vanpoolers share the use of a van to commute to work and are responsible for its gas and upkeep, and they also take turns driving. Vanpools are offered by companies through public transportation agencies and by private individuals. Slugging is another type of carpooling although it differs in that it is a more relaxed type of carpooling. Commuters stand in line at selective locations to share a ride with drivers going to a specific location. A commuter who has room in his or her vehicle drives to the selective location and calls out a destination point. Those in line who want to get to that destination ride with that specific driver who can then use HOV lanes.
The benefits of carpooling and vanpooling and even slugging are many: using less gas, fewer carbon emissions, less money spent on gas, less wear and tear on personal vehicles, use of HOV lanes, and a less stressful ride to work. Ultimately, these transportation modes result in less traffic congestion because there are fewer single-occupancy vehicles on the road, particularly during rush hours.
Tags: automobile | carpooling | HOV lanes | ride sharing | slugging | vanpooling |
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