During the winter of 2008, I was amazed when gas prices crept over $3.50 a gallon (not to mention when it went over $4.00).  When this happened, I asked a buddy from work if he wanted to start car pooling.  We have the perfect scenario, he only live 2 miles from my house, and his house was on the way to work for me.

The arrangement was, we would alternate weeks of driving, so for first week, I drove, the next week he drove, then me, then him…

My Benefits from Car Pooling:

1. Lowered my monthly gas spending from $180 to $90.
2. Reduced the wear and tear on my car by 1/2.
3. I did my part to try to reduce oil prices by car pooling.
4. I cut the carbon emissions I produced by half.
5. Cut down on traffic on the highway by 1 car.
6. Freed up 1 parking spot at work (our lot is pretty full, or was…).
7. It’s nice to ride some mornings, instead of driving.

Once the gas prices fell to the low $2 range, we stopped car pooling at that time because of conflicts in schedules.  However, if prices creep back up to the $3.50 or higher, we said we would start car pooling again.

Near the end of our car pool trips, we both started telecommuting once a week, and that was even better!

Below is the ultimate solution to high gas prices, if the weather and distance permits (which in my case, it doesn’t).

If gas prices get too high...

-D

Update, I forgot to add a few additional benefits:

• If you’re in an accident, you have a captive witness (unlikely, but still nice).
• Forces you to adhere to a more strict timetable, you don’t want to be late or pickup your buddy late.