W3 Ride Share organisers Louise Booth (left) and Jackie
Fanning, of Waitati. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Hybrid cars are one way of beating rising fuel costs, but
Waitati residents hope a new "hybrid" ride-share scheme,
described as a cross between car-pooling and hitchhiking, will
be cheaper still.
W3 Ride Share co-ordinator Jackie Fanning met Waitati
residents earlier this year after rising petrol prices drove
the cost of her daily commute to Dunedin for work and sport
to about $10 (return).
Residents said car-pooling was too inflexible, she said.
To deal with the problem, a scheme has been developed whereby
members wearing reflective armbands will wait at designated
pickup points - initially the Blueskin Bay Library and two
places in Dunedin - at set times.
Motorists displaying ride-share stickers could pick up
members, who would contribute $2 to the cost of each trip, Ms
Fanning said. The potential to expand the scheme was
indicated its title: W3 stands for Waitati, Warrington and
Waikouaiti.
Ms Fanning said the scheme would begin operating when
membership reached 60, to ensure people were not waiting for
driver members for long periods of time.
Co-ordinator Louise Booth said motorists and cyclists from
Waitati and other coastal settlements, including Karitane and
Seacliff, could converge at the Blueskin Library, and then
ride-share to Dunedin.
Ms Booth said personal safety of members was important, and
registration would keep track of the number of armbands and
stickers in circulation.
"Apart from the convenience, we hope the scheme will
encourage communication among people in the community.
Some people who hitchhike now say they will definitely get
involved," she said.
W3 Ride Share will hold a public meeting at the Waitati
Community Hall at 10am today, and will distribute pamphlets
outlining the scheme in the area on Monday.
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Alasdair Morrison
said the board was pleased to assist the group with funding
for information pamphlets and help finding sponsorship for
armbands and stickers.
"We've had a very positive result in terms of sponsorship,"
he said.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.