Four dollar a gallon gas has more people exploring their commuting options. Karen Schmiechen coordinates the DOT’s Rideshare Program for southeast Wisconsin. Perhaps not surprisingly, the service is proving increasingly popular. “Recently there was a survey done by the Journal Sentinel, and about fifty-one percent indicated that four dollars a gallon was a kind of a breaking point, and they’re starting to look at options for commuting to work,” said Schmiechen. “We had over 350 new registrations statewide,” in April, she added. “We have over 7,000 people in the database, so your chances of finding a match are about seventy percent.”
Commuters can register to hook up with existing carpools, or start their own. The Rideshare website allows commuters to find carpools in their area. The program matches people up with their point of origin and destination. “You can start a carpool or join a carpool with three or four people in in,” Schmiechen said, noting that even one day of carpooling a week can make a difference. Another benefit of carpooling – it can help decrease congestion through freeway construction zones.