iPhone cases" width="375" height="500" />SideCar, an Internet start-up based in San Francisco recently finished beta testing of its innovative ride-sharing platform that aims to fill those empty seats seen in cars stuck in traffic jams. At the center of SideCar is a mobile app for the iPhone and Android-powered smartphones that connects drivers and riders in San Francisco and creates an ad hoc community. SideCar aims to make ride-sharing an effective and meaningful activity.
The Value of Sharing a Ride
The history of ride-sharing and carpooling initiatives in the United States goes hand-in-hand with oil crises, rationing and difficult economic conditions. The concept is simple: most passenger cars can comfortably sit one or more riders, so why not entice drivers to share their automobiles with other persons who may be traveling in the same direction? This was the case during World War II, when propaganda posters and radio announcements equated the selfish act of driving without passengers to aiding the enemy.
The oil crisis of the 1970s saw the return of ride-sharing, and this time it was backed up by companies that organized carpooling as a way to save fuel and making sure their employees arrived to work on time. The advent of the Internet made ride-sharing a bit more efficient and personal thanks to message boards and other online exchanges that matched drivers with passengers. In the 21st century, ride-sharing is considered a sustainable activity for some of the following reasons:
- It is a smart way to reduce the carbon footprint left by commuters.
- It alleviates traffic congestion.
- It has immediate financial incentives.
- It has the potential of bringing members of the community closer.
How SideCar Works
SideCar utilizes a peer-to-peer approach to connect participants. Drivers and riders download the mobile app to their smartphones and sign up to become members of the community. Passengers must provide their personal information and keep a valid debit or credit card on file to participate and make donations in a cashless system. This is one of the most interesting aspects of SideCar since the donations are set by the community.
Drivers must provide information about themselves and the four-door vehicles they wish to put at the service of the community. All members of the SideCar community undergo a background check. Drivers are interviewed and must present proof of vehicle insurance.
Once registered with SideCar, drivers log in whenever they are in a position to share rides. It is up to passengers to select the time, place and destination; drivers can then choose the riders they wish to pickup. Passengers are provided with a community recommendation as to the donation amount but the ultimate decision rests with them.
SideCar is a true community in the sense that members must agree to a certain level of trust and transparency. The experience is very different from taking a taxicab where the passenger and driver do not know each other. The SideCar app provides not only information on drivers and riders but also ratings left by other community members based on their previous experiences. SideCar is a win-win system in terms of convenience, efficiency and sustainability that will hopefully be implemented in other cities.
