Pointlife
Carpooling: Still en vogue on campus?
The Pointer
ataub878@uwsp.edu
When students travel on the weekends they remember to pack the necessities: duffel bags, backpacks and dirty laundry. But do students squeeze peers in the back seat amongst the soiled socks to share a ride? Or do they decide to get in the car without company and leave at their own leisure?
It seems that while some students fill their cars with people, others just fill up with gas and head home solo.
When sophomore Heather Klein gets on the road, the only other voice in her car is coming from the radio. However, it is not because she isn’t willing to carry some extra cargo; it is simply because she doesn’t know anyone else headed her way.
Perhaps Klein, as well as many other drivers, could fill the empty seats with fellow students by utilizing the available on campus and online ride boards that many which students already benefit.
Currently, a manual ride share board is located in lower Debot, taking requests in paper form from students in need of rides or those in need of passengers.
This manual posting board has been the lone way for students to learn about car rides from one end of the state to the other.
However, the Student Government Association has passed legislation to create and maintain an online ride share board. This online site is not functioning at present, but a popular online ride board for Stevens Point students does currently exist, on Facebook.
Student Alexander Lang founded the Facebook ride share group in hopes of compiling information about rides to various distant locations for small amounts of money; yet this was not his only inspiration. Originally from California, Lang was inspired from the ride sharing many people from his hometown utilize daily.
“People give free rides to strangers in order to save on gas and to help the environment,” said Lang, who has recently purchased a car and often gives rides to Madison and Milwaukee.
The Facebook ride share group currently has 873 members and is still growing. To utilize it, put up a wall post when you are driving somewhere another student might want to go or if you need a ride and are willing to pitch in for gas. Put the dates of departure and return as well as the specific location.
To check out the group, type “University of WI Stevens Point Ride Share Group” in the Facebook search bar to save on gas, get a ride or to just meet some new company.
“I see it [carpooling] as an opportunity to share past experiences and laughs while being crammed together,” said senior Philip Hoffman, who has experienced many tight travels through student organizations.
