Bring back a sense of community!
23/09/2010
One of the best things about working at Liftshare is the wonderful feedback we get from our members. The happy and touching emails we receive about the ways car-sharing has improved people's lives can raise our spirits on even the rainiest of Monday mornings!One particular highlight for us is perhaps not something you'd immediately think of when you contemplate the potential benefits of car-sharing: increasing a sense of community.
Clare in Hereford is a prime example. She tells us that, as well as having "a great laugh" on their journeys, "we sometimes go to Tesco's to do a 'big shop'; it means that Jenni can stock up on bulky items like washing power and toilet rolls which are difficult to carry on public transport. We also pick up and drop off a regular prescription for a friend of Jenni's who has retired and finds it difficult to get to the doctors."
Car-sharers often swap skills as well, to do each other a favour and save a bit of money. Thomas in Cardiff relates that his car-sharer's wife did the flowers at his wedding - "and my wife and I have baby-sat their kids" - while Kate in Ilminster ended up sharing a horse with one of her car-sharers!
But community is about the area where you live, not just the people. Long working hours, and an increase in spending our free time in more isolated activities, means many people never really get to know the community where they live. For Emma, car-sharing changed all that. "We exchange knowledge of the local area - where the best car boot sales are, where the best markets or pick-your-own farms are, what is on at the theatre, what is happening with the development of the roads.
"For the first time since we moved to Swindon two-and-a-half years ago, I have booked tickets to the local theatre, ordered a box of organic fruit and veg and sought out the local outdoor swimming pool - all via recommendation of my Liftshare partner!"
Who would have thought that simply sharing your car would have so many life-enriching side effects?!
Comments
There are currently no comments posted for this article.
Comments are temporarily disabled.
Other news stories
- 28/01/2013
Five car-sharers save £100,000! - 12/10/2012
50% increase in number of invitations to car-share! - 01/10/2012
BT travel together and love it - 27/09/2012
There's room for more! - 25/09/2012
5 reasons to embrace Liftshare Week - 04/09/2012
Eight and a half million enjoy a Big Lunch this year - 17/08/2012
Top 4 reasons to lift-share! - 14/08/2012
Is there an answer to the rail fare hikes? - 03/08/2012
What a waste - all those empty seats! - 30/07/2012
Your best chance of finding others going your way - 22/06/2012
Liftshare Week wins European award! - 31/05/2012
Liftshare wins inaugural sustainable travel award - 25/05/2012
A chance to win tickets to the Isle of Wight Festival - 18/05/2012
We've been nominated for EU sustainability award - 02/05/2012
Half a million people sign up to share cars - 25/04/2012
We're finalists in an international sustainable travel award! - 29/03/2012
You can beat the fuel strikes - 06/03/2012
Are you a Superscrimper? - 20/02/2012
Help out your diesel-driving friends! - 03/02/2012
Will you give up your car if fuel hits £2 a litre? - 06/01/2012
Looking to spend less in 2012? - 21/12/2011
Mixing the age-groups up a bit! - 02/12/2011
Car-sharing helped me impress my daughter! - 21/11/2011
Be safer on the roads - don't travel alone - 07/11/2011
Are you ready for winter driving? - 01/11/2011
Two years' worth of success in one month - 19/10/2011
Over 6,000 new members join in five days - 06/10/2011
What's been going on during Liftshare Week? - 03/10/2011
"I save the equivalent of a £3,000 pay-rise!" - 29/09/2011
Drive back to the 80s with Liftshare - 26/09/2011
Did you party like it was 1999? - 15/09/2011
Were you cutting edge in 1993? - 07/09/2011
What were you up to in 1983? - 08/08/2011
Hitch-hiking slumps while online car-sharing takes off - 12/07/2011
New Liftshare goes live! - 06/07/2011
Petrol costs are dictating our driving habits - 22/06/2011
Drivers cutting down on car use - but sharing more - 10/06/2011
Liftshare’s close encounter with Colin Firth! - 07/06/2011
30,000 members looking to car-share to festivals! - 27/04/2011
Public transport data is now available on Liftshare.com - 21/04/2011
Car insurance rises 40% in a year - 01/04/2011
Are you a festival lover?? - 25/03/2011
Liftshare hits the headlines - 17/03/2011
Remember how much it cost to fill up ten years ago? - 15/03/2011
Ever wondered who we are? - 01/03/2011
Collaborative working breaks down barriers to car-sharing - 28/02/2011
Want to know what the songs were?! - 18/02/2011
Liftshare stars on ITV's 'Daybreak'! - 03/02/2011
Cutting rural buses will make car-sharing essential - 20/01/2011
Government urges councils to encourage more car-sharing - 04/01/2011
52% increase in people asking to share - 09/12/2010
Campaign to increase car-sharing wins national award - 30/11/2010
Snow stopping you in your tracks? - 12/11/2010
Liftshare wins nationwide Contribution to the Community award - 04/11/2010
Car-sharing hits the small screen - 20/10/2010
400,000 people sign up to car-share - 08/10/2010
Full Car Friday is the grande finale to Liftshare Week - 07/10/2010
What would you do with an extra £800? - 06/10/2010
Vote for Liftshare in the Contribution to the Community Award! - 05/10/2010
Baby trees, golf lessons and folk gigs... - 04/10/2010
AA poll finds 20 percent of drivers regularly car-share - 29/09/2010
Big build up to first ever Liftshare Week - 27/09/2010
Looking after the environment for future generations - 23/09/2010
Bring back a sense of community! - 22/09/2010
The One Billion Challenge - 20/09/2010
The funny side of car-sharing... our video competition winner! - 16/09/2010
Making the inaccessible... accessible - 09/09/2010
How liftsharing can help harmony in the home! - 06/09/2010
Car-sharing can make your journey safer - 06/09/2010
Help at hand for commuters affected by tube strike - 19/08/2010
Car-share wherever and whenever you want - get Liftshare on your mobile - 15/07/2010
Liftshare named one of Britain's greenest transport organisations - 23/06/2010
Petrol prices set for rise following emergency budget - 17/06/2010
Will you be sharing a big lunch? Only a month to go... - 16/06/2010
Liftshare short-listed in Observer Ethical Awards - 13/05/2010
New Prime Minister has car-sharing on his mind - 19/04/2010
Stranded travellers turn to car-sharing to get home - 09/04/2010
Petrol prices hit record high - 01/04/2010
Government's Carbon Reduction Commitment programme comes into force - 25/03/2010
Budget and pump prices add £2 to filling your car - 17/03/2010
Average UK petrol price may hit record £1.20 - 18/02/2010
DfT urged to do more for car-sharing - 12/02/2010
Liftshare founder invited to No.10 - 25/01/2010
350,000 people sign up to help their planet and their wallets! - 18/01/2010
Australian drivers beat petrol increases with new car-share scheme - 06/01/2010
10:10 campaign teams up with Liftshare - 30/12/2009
Looking for a new year's resolution? Try a low-car diet! - 01/12/2009
Liftshare members star in new car-sharing video - 26/11/2009
New surveys show increasing popularity of car-sharing - 23/11/2009
Cross-border car-sharing scheme for Northern and Southern Ireland - 18/11/2009
Christmas set to see highest petrol prices in 15 months - 13/11/2009
Chelsea FC launches Liftshare scheme - 06/11/2009
Bilingual, nationwide scheme for Wales - 28/10/2009
Liftshare founder named a 2009 'Young Gun' - 14/10/2009
Energy Saving Week tackles waste - 14/09/2009
Is your town involved in European Mobility Week? - 08/09/2009
Car-sharing contributes to dramatic reduction in congestion - 07/09/2009
Over 20,000 people sign up to car-share to festivals - 24/08/2009
Liftshare wins award from global growth organisation - 20/08/2009
Petrol prices set to soar by end of the year - 18/08/2009
Scientific proof that car-sharing is good for you! - 29/07/2009
Help for commuters affected by strike on UK's busiest train line - 24/06/2009
Music industry gets serious about cutting CO2 emissions - 24/06/2009
Liftshare scoops two national awards - 22/06/2009
It's time to change your world - 12/06/2009
Guerrilla marketers go undercover to promote Liftshare - 09/06/2009
Get to work in spite of the tube strike! - 29/05/2009
9th June: a step towards beating the recession and fuel prices - 22/04/2009
A new Budget: and more reasons to car-share - 22/04/2009
Time to try walking to work? - 02/04/2009
You are invited to join The Big Lunch! - 25/03/2009
Liftshare encourages its members to join Earth Hour - 10/03/2009
Car-sharing could improve road safety more than cutting speed limit - 26/02/2009
Liftshare members sharing 100 million miles a year - 14/01/2009
300,000th person signs up to Liftshare - 08/01/2009
Liftshare founder named 'Best Male' entrepreneur - 24/11/2008
Ali Clabburn named one of the 'Future 100' in Global Entrepreneurship Week - 20/11/2008
Liftshare founder addresses European conference on climate change - 24/10/2008
Don't be in the dark - commute smart - 29/09/2008
Liftshare marks its tenth anniversary in style - 19/09/2008
AA announces high petrol costs set to spark car-sharing trend and gives etiquette advice! - 02/09/2008
Find a travelling companion for car-free day (22 Sep) - 05/08/2008
Meeting the Queen and P.M. in one week - 24/07/2008
Liftshare.com recognised at Prime Minister's awards ceremony - 15/07/2008
British Motor Show teams up with Liftshare - 10/07/2008
Drivers urged to try car sharing to mitigate impact of road tax reforms! - 01/07/2008
Liftshare membership hits quarter of a million - 13/06/2008
Thousands of new members and a motion in the Scottish Parliament greet National Liftshare Day 2008 - 13/06/2008
Do you remember being free-range as a kid? - 04/06/2008
BBC inspires over 1,000 drivers to car-share - 27/05/2008
Drivers hit by highest fuel prices ever! - 13/05/2008
Don't miss out on National Liftshare Day! - 23/04/2008
Liftshare.com Ltd receives highly coveted Queens Award - 23/04/2008
Concerns over fuel shortages - 11/04/2008
Minister urges more car-sharing - 27/03/2008
liftshare member Clare is interviewed for Southern FM's Green Month. - 27/03/2008
Winners of the liftshare Tell a Friend Competition Announced - 21/03/2008
Liftshare welcomes the introduction of HOV lane - 20/03/2008
Liftshare chosen to represent the UK in European Awards - 14/03/2008
TripshareSestran.com rewarded for being Scotlands top matchmaker - 08/03/2008
Government U-Turn against M1 Car Share lane - 24/01/2008
Transport Minister Rosie Winterton backs car sharing - 10/01/2008
Liftshare embarks upon its biggest recruitment drive yet - 20/11/2007
Liftshare revs up to 200,000 members - 08/11/2007
How to pay as little as 25 pence a litre - 01/11/2007
Liftshare notification of planned service upgrade - 30/10/2007
Liftshare partners with the Environment Agency - 25/10/2007
New HOV lane announced - 25/10/2007
Car share to save your 20% during Energy Saving Week - 02/10/2007
New sitcom raises awareness of lift sharing - 28/09/2007
Introducing MyBUDi - 28/09/2007
Beat the Chancellor - Pay as little as 24 pence a litre! - 22/08/2007
South West England has more carsharers than any other region. - 19/06/2007
Change your World this July - 14/06/2007
Greenlight given for Liftsharing - 06/06/2007
BikeBUDi triumphs at coveted environmental awards - 04/06/2007
Mend the World on World Environment Day - 30/05/2007
Watch the Carshare Leeds car sharing videos - 14/05/2007
National Liftshare Day 2007 only one month away! - 26/04/2007
BT Encourages companies to look at car sharing - 01/02/2007
National Carshare network exceeds 150,000 members - 12/01/2007
Car sharing boosted by new DfT guidance - 09/01/2007
UK reported to have the highest transport costs in Europe - 17/11/2006
Car sharing saves the UK over 10,000 tonnes of CO2 each year - 31/10/2006
Car sharing has potential to save UK 9.9 million tonnes of CO2. - 25/10/2006
Football Fans could save £100's in fuel costs by car sharing to matches - 28/09/2006
Thousands BUDi-up for TravelWise Week - 18/09/2006
UK is urged to BUDi-up for TravelWise Week - 04/09/2006
Record Liftshare trip from Bangkok to Brighton - 28/07/2006
Ali Clabburn named Transport Planner of the Year 2006 - 25/07/2006
Enthusiasm for car sharing soars as petrol prices reach £1 a litre - 21/07/2006
BBC Car Sharing News - 03/07/2006
National Liftshare Day 2006 succeeds in pushing car share membership over the 120,000 mark - 29/06/2006
Liftshare is coming to South East Scotland very soon. - 26/06/2006
Career Opportunities - 14/06/2006
National Liftshare Day sparks car share promotion across the country - 01/06/2006
National Liftshare Day is coming! - 04/05/2006
Rising petrol prices increases the need for car sharing - 20/03/2006
First car-share lane to be built - 15/02/2006
Liftshare launch new interactive mapping features - 23/01/2006
Membership hits 100,000 for UK car-sharing scheme - 12/01/2006
Car Sharing Can Reduce the Risk of Road Accidents. - 17/11/2005
Spark of enterprise lifts Ali to the top - 16/11/2005
Chancellor Gordon Brown Announces Winners of the Enterprising Young Brits competition - 16/11/2005
Reducing CO2 emissions prompts double award success for Liftshare - 07/10/2005
Liftshare win Commitment to the Community Award - 03/10/2005
Workers demand transport solutions following fuel price increase - 30/09/2005
Kent Car Share - Make The School Run Fun - 30/09/2005
Kentcarshare - Cut The Queues, Travel In Twos - 09/09/2005
Drivers turn to car-sharing in response to rising fuel prices - 15/08/2005
liftshare Embraces the Revolution - 25/07/2005
Government testing HOV-lane cameras - 13/06/2005
New report to celebrate National liftshare Day reveals significance of the car passenger - 13/06/2005
Tesco Joins the Carshare Club - 13/06/2005
New national poll reveals we all want a ride with Brad - 09/05/2005
Plans for National liftshare Day 2005 are underway - 30/03/2005
liftshare welcomes possible car-share lanes on the UKs motorways - 22/03/2005
Car sharing takes off in Scotland - 28/02/2005
Annual Car-Sharing Conference: 14th April 2005 - 23/02/2005
CBI promote liftshare.com as a leader in CSR - 16/02/2005
Car-sharing helps to achieve Kyoto targets - 13/12/2004
liftshare welcomes HOV lane on the M1 - 09/12/2004
Local Authorities are encouraged to set up car-sharing schemes - 29/11/2004
liftshare.com is Highly Commended in the National Chambers Awards 2004 - 11/10/2004
Welcome to the new version of liftshare.com! - 18/08/2004
liftshare.com welcomes annoucement from the Conservative party - 04/08/2004
Driving Sustainable Transport - Integrating responsible car use and public transport - 20/07/2004
Cable & Wireless liftshare scheme launched - 07/07/2004
liftshare.com voted UK leader in positive environmental impact - 05/07/2004
liftshare welcomes government proposals to introduce HOV lanes - 15/06/2004
liftshare.com wins Big Tick Award 2004 - 15/06/2004
liftshare.com short listed for the New Statesman New Media Awards 2004 for Innovation - 14/06/2004
National liftshare Day is here! - 10/05/2004
Preparations for National liftshare Day 2004 are underway - 15/03/2004
Membership hits 50,000 for UK car-sharing scheme - 03/03/2004
School-run.org launched! - 02/03/2004
London liftshare wins award for innovation - 08/01/2004
Steven Norris launches Sharethecar.org - 18/06/2002
liftshare awarded eWell-Being Award