A one-stop website to promote car-sharing across the Greater Bristol area is being launched on Tuesday 14 June to celebrate National Liftshare Day.
Bath and North East Somerset and Bristol City Council's will join North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Council's Liftshare scheme; 2CarShare.com. This will make it easier for the many people who commute across authorities to work everyday.
“The web-based car-sharing scheme is set to become even more popular now that people who commute by car across two or more authorities can now find out details of other drivers who do the same cross-boundary commute.”
“www.2carshare.com demonstrates how working together in partnership, the four authorities can bring about practical transport improvements that benefit more people across the region. Reducing single occupancy car use will have a positive impact on congestion and pollution which are two of our key priorities and it’s commonsense to extend the car-sharing scheme to make it region-wide,” said the four authorities in a joint statement.
Since its launch in December 2001, www.2carshare.com has attracted more than 2,500 members and with the four authorities now joining together this number is set to increase.
www.2carshare.com is an internet-based car sharing database. Users of the site log their details and a description of their journey, and are automatically provided with the details of potential car share partners. It is up to each user to make contact and organise the details of meeting to car share.
Car-sharing is easy. Users don't have to do it every day and even car-sharing once a week can save money and reduce the number of cars on the roads.
The four Greater Bristol councils have also joined forces to promote car sharing as part of Jam Busting June. Believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, the event offers prizes such as bikes, vouchers for local shops and tickets for tourist attractions. Anyone who registers will receive one free entry to a prize draw for every three days they use a sustainable mode of transport to commute to work.
ENDS.
Notes to Editors:
The Joint Local Transport Plan 2006 - 2011 is being developed by Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset Councils to meet the Greater Bristol area’s transport needs, increase transport choice and improve access to jobs, education and services for all. For more information, visit www.greaterbristoltransportplan.org, contact the joint local transport team on 0117 922 4921 or email enquiries@greaterbristoltransportplan.org.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Tamsin May at Bristol City Council on 0117 922 3332
Richard Cottle at Bath & North East Somerset Council on 01225 477 283
Richard Turner at North Somerset Council on 01934 634 996 or
Debra Davies at South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 862 015.