Carpooling-Shared rides, split costs

One car, four smiles and zero stress, that's the math of carpooling, says Sachin Keyyoor, a 46-year-old IT professional. Sachin is part of a bustling carpooling group in House of Hiranandani, a 1,500-unit apartment complex in Akshayanagar.

“Residents post their trips the day before and interested people connect with them and just get going,” says Sachin, adding that carpooling is a boon, especially for those who commute via Outer Ring Road.

It is a great stress buster to have some company in the car. Sachin has made a lot of friends while carpooling. “We talk about various topics from local politics to the Ukraine war. The day at the office gets much better with a good conversation.

It also serves as an opportunity to network and build contacts. And what better way to decongest Bengaluru roads,” smiles Sachin.

When Govt Fails, Communities Step InFor most Bengalureans, the daily commute to and from work is a major hassle. Autorickshaw drivers continue to overcharge and refuse rides despite govt warnings. The govt fixed the rates and set an Oct 31 deadline for them to update the fare meters. However, the meters remain ornamental devices in most of the autos in the city, with drivers refusing to use them, while some operate without using meters.

"We did a drive in August and registered 6,951 cases of against errant auto drivers, which included refusal to go for hire and demanding excess fare.

Another drive will be launched soon," says Karthik Reddy, joint commissioner of police, Traffic.App-based cab commutes can also be stressful. The decline in vehicle conditions of app-based taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber often makes rides unpleasant, along with surge pricing and drivers scrolling reels or cancelling rides.

Amid these commuting woes, carpooling is gaining popularity, especially among apartment dwellers, considering it is more economical, viable, and sustainable. Cuts Commute CostsMirabilis apartment in Horamavu has 250 people in its carpooling group. “We ensure that the cost is shared in a fair and transparent manner. This comfortably covers fuel expenses and small maintenance costs, ensuring the arrangement remains convenient for everyone,” says Bharat Govindrajan, an HR professional and active member of the carpooling group, adding that his daily commute became enjoyable after he started carpooling.

Bharat carpools regularly with fellow residents Siju, Uma and Arpita. Participants take turns driving their own cars, keeping the spirit of sharing intact. Destination-specific and Route-specific CarpoolingSome apartments coordinate destination specific carpooling for one-time trips to events, airports, or malls. “Besides that, we organise route-specific carpooling wherein residents travelling on the same daily route (like to office or school) can share regular rides,” says Soni Kumari, co-treasurer of Ajmera Infinity in Electronics City. Green Commuting Carpooling means a lot for those who care for the city. “Each person sharing a car means a few cars less on the congested roads plus reduction in emissions,” says Dinkar C, a resident of SNN Raj Greenbay in Electronics City, which has a lively carpooling group. Dr Ashish Verma, professor, transportation systems engineering at the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bengaluru is all for shared and pooled mobility.

“Public transport and carpooling should be encouraged from the sustainable mobility point of view. Increasing the occupancy of vehicles helps reduce traffic congestion,” says Verma, who is also the convenor of the IISc Sustainable Transportation Lab. One thing that dissuades people from carpooling is the fear of having to travel with strangers. Apartment carpoolers do not have to worry about it much, he adds. VOICE BOXWhen our apartment complex launched a carpool initiative, I expected awkward silences and polite nods.

Instead, within 10 minutes of our first ride, we were swapping weekend stories, debating the best filter coffee and burger joints in town, and collectively yelling at traffic jams.

What began as a convenience quickly turned into camaraderie - our four-wheeled club that starts the day with laughter ends it with shared playlists and snack swaps. Sachin Keyyoor, IT professional and resident, House of Hiranandani, AkshayanagarInitially, we’d use the QuickRide app. Over time, as regular carpoolers became familiar with the driver’s schedule and route, coordination shifted to WhatsApp.

While cost-sharing is helpful, what truly makes carpooling worthwhile is the experience. The conversations, shared stories, and camaraderie make the otherwise stressful Bengaluru traffic much more enjoyable. It turns a long commute into something pleasant and engaging. Bharat Govindrajan, resident, Mirabilis Apartment, Horamavu, and HR professionalPeople post requests specifying a route and time, and whoever is going on the same route around that time, responds and the requestor gets to tag along. Carpoolers pay a nominal amount to the ride giver.

Shared rides reduce transportation expenses. They also allow you to network and learn about many random things, which otherwise might go unnoticed. Dinkar C, resident, SNN Raj Greenbay, Electronics City, who works for a software MNC