Cool pool' rides in hot summers!

Workplaces are far flung, public transport is unreliable and telling your boss day after day just how late you’ll be just won’t cut it. Add to that mess, streets choked with traffic and pollution. And voila! You’ve got yourselves a bustling city.

Thanks to these commuting troubles, Bengalureans are quickly giving their stamp of approval to a concept that our western peers have been at for years now — ridesharing.

The concept itself allows people to share vehicles – people who’ve opted for it and have the same destination can hop on enroute. “Noting the traffic congestion, Bengalureans want alternate modes of transport and this fits the bill perfectly because it reduces travel cost and time,” notes Lokesh Bevara, CEO of the Bengaluru-based 360Ride, a travel sharing platform. Lokesh was inspired by his own troubles of having to spend upto three hours a day in traffic. “I noticed that urban commuters were willing to share their vehicle with a stranger provided a right verification system was in place,” he says, attempting to build a platform for alternative mode of urban transportation among like-minded commuters.

For people who use public transport to get across the city, this is a game-changer. Why? It cuts down time and costs by half. “I live in North Bengaluru and I have to make my way to the East of the city. I take a Volvo and it takes me over two and a half hours and Rs 120, one way. Now, a couple of us just share a ride. It’s faster unlike the long-winded routes the buses tend to take,” explains Sanjay TP, a software professional who used to spend six hours a day on the road.

Sanjay’s in not a one off case. Several people are opting for this because it adds to the part about you doing your bit for the environment. “Our air quality is dismal and I once read that some areas in Bengaluru have 20 times the pollution rate of what the WHO considers safe! Instead of cutting down trees to make way for road-widening schemes and to build incomplete bridges, the easiest way to go about this would be to start sharing your vehicle,” says Sowmya Naidu, a healthcare practitioner, who drives her car to Bannerghatta Road everyday and allows other people to share her ride.

Whether it’s a two or four-wheeler, safety seems to be a big concern. “We’ve been brought up in a society that’s asked us not to talk to strangers or accept candy from them. So, how is sharing your ride with someone any different? Safety concerns are on top of that list and needs some addressing,” says Nitisha Shenoy, a software professional from the city.  “And to address those concerns, we specifically make sure women share their rides with other women,” adds Lokesh. Either way, this one is a win.