New website gives ridesharing a lift

From staff reports
Whether you are looking for a ride to work or looking to share your ride with others, a new website makes ridesharing safe and easy for commuters in northwest Michigan. www.NMRide.net was recently launched as the official website connecting commuters for ride sharing to work, activities and more throughout the Traverse Bay region. The general public is invited to learn how to use the site, as well as local businesses interested in helping their employees get to work.

NMRide.net is an initiative of the Northwest Michigan Transportation Alliance (NMTA), a collaboration of more than 20 human service agencies, non-profits and local businesses which seek to expand transportation options in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie counties. Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (NWMCOG), a partner in NMTA, developed and will maintain the site.
The new ride share program is among the most comprehensive in the country, according to Michelle Goetz Grahl, who helped coordinate the launch of NMRide.net. “There are many people in our area who don’t own a vehicle and struggle with finding transportation to work, school or other places. NMRide.net gives them another option.”
How NMRide.net Works
Everyone can browse the offered rides and ride requests at www.NMRide.net. However, in order to contact a driver or rider, or post a ride offer or request, users need to register for a free account on the site.
Those needing a ride can use the ride search tool or browse the ride list to see if anyone has offered a ride in the direction they are heading. If a match is found, the user sends the driver an e-mail message. The driver will then have that person’s e-mail address and can respond. They can then exchange contact information, ride schedules and other information to help determine a good match.
For those with a ride to offer, the process works the same way. Ride providers can use the ride search tool or browse the ride list to see if anyone needs a ride in the direction they are heading. The steps are then the same for connecting to the person needing a ride.
NMRide.net enables users to enter criteria such as route, work schedule, smoking preference and sharing of expenses to help find the carpool partner that best matches their profile. A mapping tool allows riders and drivers to view destinations and routes, and carpool safety tips are also featured. There is no cost for registration or use of the site. Riders may be asked to share expenses with drivers, but that is left to the discretion of each driver.
To accommodate those without ready access to a computer, NMTA is in the process of creating a public access system, beginning with public libraries and local businesses. Public access sites will be marked with a window decal and listed on the website. The group is distributing posters and brochures throughout the region promoting NMRide.com.
Additional Benefits
Janie McNabb, Communications Coordinator for NMCOG, pointed out that besides helping individuals with transportation challenges, the site offers benefits to employers and the environment. “It helps workers find a reliable way to get to work, and to get there on time. That makes them a more dependable employee,” noted McNabb.
McNabb also noted that ride sharing should not be limited to people facing transportation barriers. “We hope this effort fosters an understanding that ride sharing helps reduce traffic and negative environmental impacts,” she said. “Our region is facing growing land use and transportation challenges, and sharing a ride is a simple way to reduce the number of cars on the road.”
Funding for the ride share program comes from United Way of Northwest Michigan and state, federal and local sources. For more information about the Northwest Michigan Transportation Alliance, and ride sharing, visit www.NMRide.net.