http://blogs.ridemetro.org/blogs/write_on/archive/2008/12/22/Ridesharing-with-a-Little-Help-from-iPhone.aspxA new application on iPhone matches drivers with riders in a twist on old-fashioned hitchhiking. Think of it as computerized hitchhiking. Carticipate , a free ride-sharing application became available for the iPhone in October. It&#39;s already had moreenCommunityServer 2.1 (Build: 60809.935)http://blogs.ridemetro.org/blogs/write_on/archive/2008/12/22/Ridesharing-with-a-Little-Help-from-iPhone.aspx#6759Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:43:20 GMTd28ebc89-27af-41e7-9b5c-0c1b3d1b56ff:6759Steffen Frost<p>We recently gave a talk on carticipation at the Silicon Valley iPhone Developers' Meetup in Palo Alto and posted the video here (select &quot;high quality&quot; mode):</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaphdB6Wafs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaphdB6Wafs</a></p> <p>Making ride sharing and carpooling popular among the American public is an opportunity to increase our energy independence.</p> <p>The emergence of location aware smart phones enables carticipation, the planning and coordination of ride sharing via mobile social network applications, and offers new potential for change.</p> <p>Since you double the efficiency of a vehicle when sharing a ride, a carticipation rate of 10% by American drivers would translate to an increase of 5% in efficiency of the overall US vehicle fleet. &nbsp;Accomplish the same with vehicle technology would cost the automotive industry billions in R&amp;D. &nbsp;On a cost basis, carticipative social change would trump, and yet compliment new automotive technology.</p> <p>US oil consumption is 20.73 million bbl/day (2004 est.) according to </p> <p><a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html">https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html</a></p> <p>A 5% increase in efficiency means 1Mbbl/day of demand destruction in US oil consumption. &nbsp;At $40 - $100/barrel, this means $40M-$100M/day of value creation, not to mention dividends to the environment and our national security. &nbsp;This is a big prize.</p> <br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ridemetro.org/> http://blogs.ridemetro.org/blogs/write_on/archive/2008/12/22/Ridesharing-with-a-Little-Help-from-iPhone.aspx#6761Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:14:57 GMTd28ebc89-27af-41e7-9b5c-0c1b3d1b56ff:6761Mary Sit<p>Thank you for your comment, Steffen. Your application is all about creating social change - and if you can pull it off, not only do we as individuals save gas and money, we help our environment, as you pointed out. </p><p>To our other readers:</p><p>Yesterday, I talked with Steffen after publishing this post and got an update on what Carticipate is doing. This week, the company is planning to partner with Facebook. That means you don&#39;t have to own an iPhone to particpate. </p><p>If you have a Facebook account,you can register with Carticipate, set up locations, and search for rides or post rides. If you do have an iPhone, you can synch it with your Facebook account. </p><p>For those of you who worry about the safety of riding with a stranger (something I&#39;m concerned about as are other women, I&#39;m sure), Carticipate says it plans to start a women&#39;s carticipation group - run by women, for women exclusievly. You must be accepted by two women to be a member. </p><p>&quot;If you are a woman, you can restrict to search only - then pick and choose who you&#39;re going to participate with,&quot; said Steffen Frost. &quot;You do see the person&#39;s profile, so you have some basis to make a judgment. When you add social networking - you see the person&#39;s friends - friending is what you have to to on Facebook - that gives you another level of security.&quot;</p><p>The firm also plans to launch a corporate carticipation group whose members have valid e-mail addresses. &nbsp;</p><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ridemetro.org/> http://blogs.ridemetro.org/blogs/write_on/archive/2008/12/22/Ridesharing-with-a-Little-Help-from-iPhone.aspx#6766Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:12:26 GMTd28ebc89-27af-41e7-9b5c-0c1b3d1b56ff:6766DominicMazoch<p>Mary,</p> <p>Was that STAR van picture taken at the Kuykendal P&amp;R lot?</p> <br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ridemetro.org/> http://blogs.ridemetro.org/blogs/write_on/archive/2008/12/22/Ridesharing-with-a-Little-Help-from-iPhone.aspx#6767Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:15:44 GMTd28ebc89-27af-41e7-9b5c-0c1b3d1b56ff:6767DominicMazoch<p>I think this is a hybryd service: &nbsp;a cross between carpooling, taxi cab, and paratransit.</p> <p>Now, what is the thinking of the insurance companies, due to the &quot;hire&quot; situation.</p> <br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ridemetro.org/> http://blogs.ridemetro.org/blogs/write_on/archive/2008/12/22/Ridesharing-with-a-Little-Help-from-iPhone.aspx#6782Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:44:45 GMTd28ebc89-27af-41e7-9b5c-0c1b3d1b56ff:6782Mary Sit<p>DominicMazoch, </p> <p>I don't know but will try to find out for you. </p> <br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ridemetro.org/>