Would the "Mitfahrengelegenheit" work in Ireland?

ich_verschwinde

Its a system in Germany where drivers who are commuting from A to B on a particular day advertise themselves on http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de. specifying the date and time of their commute (and of course they're origin and destination). Passengers who need a lift from A to B will then search this site for their required routes and dates to find a driver. The passengers then pays the driver a contribultion towards the fuel costs.
Basically, the driver is paying little for his journey and the passengers are getting the journey for a good price.
Its really popular in Germany. and if you're a driver you'll never have a problem filling all the spare seats in your car!..
do you think a system like that would work here?

PRND

I don't think it would work here. Germans are renowned for being punctual and efficient. In this country we can't even make scheduled public transport run per a timetable.

You would get the people who were on time who would get annoyed showing up for someone who is not ready yet or doesn't show so stop offering lifts. Then the people who are relying on a lift which doesn't come so they wouldn't continue to use the service.

fricatus

I don't see why it wouldn't, as long as the driver or passenger isn't in one of these jobs where they never get out on time.

They'd have to call it something other than "Mitfahrengelegenheit" though... I mean most of us can barely spell our own names!

Victor

I think something like that needs a certain mass of population to work, that just isn't there in Ireland.

PRND

Maybe if you had some form of ebay ratings scheme. Those who are dedicated to using the system will build up a good score and the opposite party will know that their lift / passenger will be on time. Too many bad scores and nobody will touch you.

MrDylan

This was actually tried through car pooling on http://www.dublintraffic.ie/

Never really took off, in part due to no follow up once they launched it. Think it was in 2003.

Idea is good and is also done in washington city where you have express lanes for 3+ passengers, the golden rule is after you say where you're going you remain silent for the journey.... would that work in Ireland??

Imposter

I think that would have a better chance of working with long distance commutes such as students going home for a weekend or commuters from Kinnegad+ type areas. Basically anyone that currently has to rely on Bus Eireann or that wants to reduce their fuel costs would be the prime targets for such a scheme I would think.

It obviously would need a rating system of some sort too.

ich_verschwinde

Its so popular in Germany that there aren't enough drivers there to cater for all the people who need a lift! And most of the users are students!
Maybe 20 years ago it wouldn't have worked but I think Irish people are becoming more efficient nowadays. Arent train timetables now down to the exact minute whereas a few years ago ,it was to the nearest 10 minutes or so!
It think it could work for long-distance journeys, especially for students! The great thing is that all parties are making a good saving on their journey.

If something like this was initiated here though, I would see the safety aspects of it being quesitoned. like "you could be giving a ride to a criminal"? That would probably lose people's confidence in it. The Germans dont really see this as a problem

but yes the rating idea would be very much needed!

ich_verschwinde

I've seen those Car Pooling Lanes in California aswell, its a great idea!! but It must be hard to enforce..

unkel

ich_verschwinde wrote: »

most of the users are students!

Give all students free public transport. That's what they did in the Netherlands in '88. I never hitched a ride again

Victor wrote: »

I think something like that needs a certain mass of population to work, that just isn't there in Ireland.

I share your pessimism on this one, Victor

Victor

MrDylan wrote: »

This was actually tried through car pooling on http://www.dublintraffic.ie/

Mitfahrgelegenheit is quite different - it is used by registered users who are making occassional long distance journeys - not commuting.

the golden rule is after you say where you're going you remain silent for the journey.... would that work in Ireland??

"HI, I'M IN THE EXPRESS LANE"

MOH

ich_verschwinde wrote: »

Maybe 20 years ago it wouldn't have worked but I think Irish people are becoming more efficient nowadays. Arent train timetables now down to the exact minute whereas a few years ago ,it was to the nearest 10 minutes or so!

You mean here? Train timetables might be down to the exact minute; unfortunately the trains rarely are.

Colm R

unkel wrote: »

Give all students free public transport. That's what they did in the Netherlands in '88. I never hitched a ride again

I used to work with a Dutch guy in Cork and said that in Holland all the Student Unions got together to set up a Courier Service. Think about, what a fantastic idea.

Holland is so small, and has such a good public transport network that runs 24Hrs.

L1011

They've a park and share system in Belfast IIRC. Again, this is Ireland, can't see it working...

Chris_533976

Colm R wrote: »

I used to work with a Dutch guy in Cork and said that in Holland all the Student Unions got together to set up a Courier Service. Think about, what a fantastic idea.

Holland is so small, and has such a good public transport network that runs 24Hrs.

They have to have reasonable public transport as their motorways make the M50 feel empty by comparison.

dobsdave

I'm living in Dresden at the moment, and I usually get a bus from the main train station to work every day.
I see an awful lot of people using this system, probably about 5/6 cars in a ten minute spell.
Its used for inter city routes, and definitely not for commuting or using car pooling lanes:D
All student age group.
Dresdens population is less than half of Dublins.