Register planned for car pooling

Car pooling to save on fuel costs may be coming to Oamaru under a plan by the Natural Heritage Society and Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust.

The venture will be launched at the Health Active Living Oamaru (Halo) expo on October 19 encouraging people to share trips, not only to save fuel but to cope with the long-term impacts of climate change and peak oil.

One of the organisers, Nathalie Brown, said yesterday the plan was to launch a register so people could seek to share vehicles, either on a one-off or regular basis.

"It is already happening in an informal way with friends sharing rides," she said.

The register would be launched at the Halo expo and then be held at the Oamaru Public Library for a trial for a month.

If the trial was successful and there was a demand, it would continue at the library.

People could register for the car pool, either seeking a ride on a regular or one-off basis, or people who were planning a trip could also register if others wanted to join them.

It would be up to the individual to then get in contact with the person wanting or offering a ride and make the arrangements.

There was also a website (www.hitch.net.nz [1]) on which people could register and already some North Otago residents were doing that.

The register at the library would be available to those without a computer.