Kentcarshare - Cut The Queues, Travel In Twos
30/09/2005

Motorists in Kent are being encouraged to cut down their fuel costs and reduce congestion by registering online to the first public car sharing scheme in Kent.
Kent County Council is launching two new online schemes for the county - kentcarshare and kentschoolrun.
Kentcarshare, available for the public as well as organisations in Kent, matches drivers and passengers online with those who do similar journeys to share driving costs whilst helping reduce congestion in Kent. Kentschoolrun is the new car share scheme dedicated to parents and schools across Kent designed to help tackle school run congestion.
Drivers or passengers can join the kentcarshare scheme for free and find out more by visiting www.kent.gov.uk/carshare
Kentcarshare is available for everyone who is getting to and from work, going shopping, visiting friends and family anywhere in Kent or the UK. The scheme aims to make the driving experience more enjoyable by matching motorists travelling in the same direction to share costs and perhaps even enjoy a more sociable journey.
KCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport Richard King said: “Examining how we travel around Kent and looking at ways to reduce congestion and pollution is certainly something we can all do to make a difference to our environment, and kentcarshare creates the opportunities to make that difference.”
KCC employee John Luckcock has been car sharing for seven years “I’m in a team of three car sharing to travel 100 miles each day between Broadstairs and Maidstone. It saves each of us hundreds of pounds each year and saves over 200 car miles per day– It’s common sense for us to car share.” 

Kentcarshare roadside notices and bus back adverts will be unveiled on the launch day, 4 October. Drivers can see these in key areas experiencing congestion, including town centres in Maidstone, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells as well as Aylesford Business Park.
The 75 roadside signs mounted on existing lamp columns will be used to promote the new kentcarshare scheme. The signs will be in groups of three along 25 arterial routes going in to and out of the four key town centres.
Kentcarshare bus back adverts will be on 224 Arriva, Stagecoach and Nu Venture buses across Kent from 4 October to the end of November. The adverts will be on buses in the same key areas as the roadsigns. 

NOTES TO EDITORS
Kentcarshare and kentschoolrun have been developed by Liftshare.com on behalf of Kent County Council. Liftshare is the leading carshare database supplier in the UK www.Liftshare.com
Kent County Council launched this scheme to its staff on 20 September and there are 14 other organisations that were part of a previous private scheme already signed up. Partners include 8 other local authorities, BAE Systems, Jacobs Babtie, University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trusts.
Bus back adverts can be seen on Stagecoach South buses around Canterbury in 35 areas, Arriva Buses around Maidstone across 44 areas and Arriva and Nu Venture buses around Tunbridge Wells across 38 areas.
Roadside signs will be located along 25 arterial routes:
Maidstone - A20 Allington, A229 Sandling, A20 Ashford Road, A246 Sittingbourne Road, A274 Sutton Road, A229 Loose Road, A26 Tonbridge Road- Barming, A26 Tonbridge Road - Wateringbury.
Aylesford Industrial Estate - A20 Ditton, Forstal Road
Canterbury - A2050 Harbledown, A290 Whitstable Road, St Stephen's Hill, St Stephen's Road, Sturry Road, Littlebourne Road, New Dover Road, Old Dover Road, Wincheap. 

Tunbridge Wells - A26 London Road, A264 Pembury Road, A267 Frant Road, A26 Eridge Road, A264 Langton Road.
The signs have been made by Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) based in Aylesford who have worked on a number of previous signs for KCC. Operating as a commercial organisation, RBLI was originally set up as an independent charity to provide housing and employment for disabled and ex-Service personnel. The signs use the latest advances in reflective materials, making them more durable and reflective. A special film protects against the damage caused by graffiti and further increases the lifespan of the signs.
Photo attached of Graham Gibbens, KCC Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Chairman of the Highways Advisory Board carsharing with his colleagues in the Toyota Prius hybrid electric KCC pool car.