As Gas Prices Rise, Ride-Sharing Soars
CHICAGO (CBS) – Some Chicago area motorists frustrated with paying the highest gas prices in the nation are finding alternative ways to get around.
Given the cost spike, many are re-discovering the carpool. While Chicago has lots of public transportation options, they don't work for everybody.
Some are using the Pace Bus Vanpool service.
The average fare is $130 per person per month. Thirteen of them share the ride and Pace pays for the gas the tolls and the maintenance. Better still, as driver, Becky Yarnell, who keeps the van at her house, rides for free.
"They pay the gas and they pay the tolls," she told CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez. "Just taking the van alone saves you tremendously."
Four new vanpools were added recently, and 15 more are on the way. Pace also officers carpool connections at its ride-share website. Visits to the site are funning double what were they were last year at this time due to the high cost of gas.
But Pace isn't' the only way to connect to other commuters going your way. Websites such as Erideshare and Carpoolworld offer ways to save money on your drive to work.
