Car sharing

Carsharegm.com makes it easy for you to find people to car share with. Car sharing is good for you, your wallet, our towns, and for the environment.

What are the benefits of sharing a car?

The UK has the worst congestion, longest commuting time, second highest road utilisation and highest car ownership in the EU. The UK's traffic situation has led to significant social, economic and environmental costs:

• Traffic jams cost the economy £5 billion every year in lost productivity
• There are 10 million empty seats on the road every day
• The average speed of traffic in London is 10mph
• 29% of children travel to school by car
• 90% of London air pollution is caused by road traffic

Sharing a car

• Reduces the costs of travelling by car
• Undercuts the cost of nearly all other forms of transport
• Reduces congestion and pollution
• Reduces parking problems
• Reduces the need for a private car
• Widens the recruitment catchment areas for businesses
• Provides a real solution to the lack of public transport in rural areas
• Facilitates the integration of public and private transport
• Is a way of meeting new, like-minded people.

If half of UK motorists received a lift one day a week, congestion and pollution would be reduced by 10% and traffic jams by 20%.

Safe and confidential

The safety of members is a priority for Carsharegm.com, all members' details are stored securely in the database and only the members' intended travel information can be accessed online.

When it comes to travelling, every member is responsible for his or her own safety. However we do recommend that members follow some simple security measures outlined below:

• Avoid exchanging home addresses with your travelling companion before you meet them
• Always arrange to meet in a public place
• Tell a friend or family member who you will be travelling with, where and when
• Make sure you show each other your IDs - passports, student cards or driving licences - so you know you are travelling with the right person
• Passengers should ask the driver for the make, model and colour of their car as well as the registration number. Do not get into the car if these do not match what you were originally told

You are under no obligation to go ahead with any car share. If you have any doubts about your travelling companion, for any reason, you should avoid travelling with them.

Guaranteed ride home scheme

Salford City Council provides a 'Guaranteed Ride Home' scheme for council staff. Under this scheme, if a registered member has to leave at an unexpected time,and no practical way home is available for the passenger member(s) of the car share, the city council will arrange transport from your place of work to home.

How to get started

Visit the dedicated website at Carsharegm.com and click on 'Register now for free', then follow the step by step instructions.

• For Salford City Council staff select special group and then Salford council staff
• For the general public select public groups and then general public

For more information contact Steve Glazebrook, telephone 0161 779 4870.

This page was last updated on 23 November 2010