Sharing is caring
New in ecomobility: long-distance ride sharing
Latest development in ecomobility, as shown by a US$1bn French company, BlaBlaCar, which connects private car owners with passengers willing to contribute to costs
A youthful French company, BlaBlaCar, is expanding rapidly in Europe, Asia and South America on the back of a niche opportunity in the global trend towards ecomobility. It is part of the move away from individual car ownership towards a range of other solutions, from the Uber taxi service to car or bicycle sharing, which allows users to rent a vehicle or cycle for just a few hours. Apart from other benefits, cutting down on the number of cars on the roads is good for the environment. BlaBlaCar describes its service as ride sharing. It manages an app that connects people who will be making a long-distance trip and have space in their cars with people who want to make the same journey and are willing to share the cost. The price is determined by negotiation between the parties and BlaBlaCar does not intervene, but its advice is to charge about €6c/km-€7c/km (about 90c/km-R1/km). BlaBlaCar’s app provides a photo of the driver, notes whether he or she has submitted an identity document ...
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