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November 16, 2009 Carpooling Makes Great Sense for the Environment and Your Wallet Kamloops, B.C. - People throughout the region and across the country, have been hit hard by the economic recession. The downturn is forcing many to take a closer look at their finances and find ways to cut back on expenses. "Apart from lessening our impact on the environment, carpooling makes good economic sense for motorists," says Colleen Lepik, Transportation Coordinator for the City of Kamloops. "At a time when people are really trying to watch their pennies, carpooling is an easy way to reduce costs on fuel, parking and vehicle maintenance." Although the costs of gas and parking are readily noticeable, the true costs of owning and operating a vehicle are much higher than most drivers would suspect. According to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian household spends over $12,000 per year on transportation alone, the second highest expense next to shelter. Even those driving as little as 12,000 km per year are looking at annual driving costs of between approximately $8,000 and $10,000, varying with the make and model of the car. "It's important to note that carpooling doesn't require a large committment, consider it once or twice a week to start" The City of Kamloops' 2nd Annual Carpool Week will take place November 16 to 20, 2009. As part of Carpool Week, commuters are encouraged to visit Carpool.ca and make an online pledge to carpool. All pledges will be entered into a random draw for a variety of prizes, including $300 in free fuel, a $200 Safeway Gift Certificate, and an iPod Nano. The City of Kamloops encourages commuters to consider using the free carpool matching service provided at Carpool.ca. The system is user-friendly and secure. There are currently close to 350 individuals in Kamloops and surrounding area registered with Carpool.ca. As more and more people register, carpooling becomes an even more visible and viable transportation alternative for commuters. The program is not just for people who live within city limits; in fact, in areas where public transit might not be readily available, carpooling makes even better sense. "It's important to note that carpooling doesn't require a large commitment," says Anne Marie Thornton, Manager of Carpool.ca. "Our desire to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions tends to be secondary to our need for convenience, so consider carpooling once or twice a week to start." For more information or to make a pledge, visit Carpool.ca today! - 30 - Media Contact:
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