Car Pooling Is Here
The fuel price hike is the talk of the town, and what better time to announce the launch of an Indian Car Pooling Website?
On website commuters are able to post their own carpool ads in the carpool section or search for ads according to city, area and pin code thereby getting sharp and accurate results, all for free.
There is also a privacy option where users can hide personal information and manage responses to their carpool ads via the online mailbox itself, this is a useful feature for women who want a carpool but are hesitant of putting their contact information online.
Indimoto.com is offering free listing of car pool ads and might plan to charge for the ads at a later date. I guess Indimoto will try to build a community and then start charging for the ads. One of the main problems with car-pooling is the co-ordination element. It is generally easy in the mornings as the people who are part of a car pool might leave for work around the same time. However, each of the car pool members might wind up their work at different times and hence people end up using their own mode of transport in the evening.
On website commuters are able to post their own carpool ads in the carpool section or search for ads according to city, area and pin code thereby getting sharp and accurate results, all for free.
There is also a privacy option where users can hide personal information and manage responses to their carpool ads via the online mailbox itself, this is a useful feature for women who want a carpool but are hesitant of putting their contact information online.
Indimoto.com is offering free listing of car pool ads and might plan to charge for the ads at a later date. I guess Indimoto will try to build a community and then start charging for the ads. One of the main problems with car-pooling is the co-ordination element. It is generally easy in the mornings as the people who are part of a car pool might leave for work around the same time. However, each of the car pool members might wind up their work at different times and hence people end up using their own mode of transport in the evening.
BTW, the guys at Indimoto also have a not-so-publicized blog.
Update: Rajan informs me about the Mumbai Carpool Project, which has been in existence for some time.
posted by Kaps at
5:01 PM
10 Comments:
In crowded indian cities this concept must take off in a big way. It can help both the individual and the society at large. for the former a saving on cost of transportation and the latter a reduction in environmental pollution. The logistics is not easy.
In Bangalore a bunch of people in a Yahoo group are networking to make these arrangements possible.
By
Anonymous, at 9:28 PM
Hi Kaps,
It is been since long, been around here. There is a nice project that I came across a few months ago called Mumbai carpool by Siddharth, I think that is purely arisen out of hobby so far.
http://patang.org/projects/carpool4/
I had written about it too
http://rajan.wordpress.com/2005/09/11/social-coordination-machines/
Rajan
By
Rajan, at 11:03 PM
@Anand Srini,
It is cleary beneficial to both sides. People may have to forego some of their convenience as they may need to adjust the time with their fellow car pool members.
In Big IT companies in Bangalore, making more people use company buses might be a better option than the car pool.
@Rajan,
Thanks for the link to the Mumbai Carpool Project. Maybe it needs a bit more marketing.
By
Kaps, at 11:05 AM
Car Pooling in India.. I hope it kicks off..
Chennai or for that matter most of the Indian metros could really really use it..
But in a country where the driver / chauffer driven cars are somekind of the 'status symbol'... I am not sure how 'car pool' would work..
Time will tell.. I guess..
By
Ram Viswanathan, at 3:47 PM
@Ram V,
I think the situation will change. The car pool driver will not be regarded like the normal driver :-) I'm sure the car pool people can work out a system where the various members can take turns to drive.
By
Kaps, at 4:00 PM
Very True. In places like Mumbai, Delhi carpooling is really a cool and effective solution to traffic jams.Indimoto.com has taken a good initiative by introducing carpooling concept to the Indian people, though the concept is popular in US & Canada but India is still untouched. The way they are trying to popularise the concept is not enough, we people need to take the initiative to spread the word. Good work.
By
Anonymous, at 2:33 PM
People are picking up the cpncept of carpooling. Indimoto.com being India's first carpooling website, will have to face competition as other indian sites are also trying to implement this feature. Not only this some have already made city specific carpool sites. But the sites simplicity will keep it on top, hope it remains that way.
By
Anonymous, at 2:37 PM
yeah I also read about sms based carpool for Mumbai www.koolpool.co.in .. Interesting concept..Hope it works out!!
By
Anonymous, at 10:36 PM
Definitely carpool concept will work out in India. check this website http://www.vshareride.com. simple, secure and user friendly.
By
jvembuna, at 1:58 PM
Let me join the bandwagon with my rideshare website...http://www.svasearch.com
I tried to differentiate myself by incorporating google maps into the rideshare/carpool concept and i wouldnt be surprised if that hasnt been implemented already too !!!
By
Anonymous, at 8:07 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home