Would you 'car share' your commute?

[Welly]

In my case it would not be 'car share' more like pick up a collegue and take home *every day*.

My work place has moved and the company is growing (slightly). My business partner wants his son (age 21) to join the Company (I don't) anyway this chappy can't drive and I (almost) pass his house on the way to and from work but this would be a deviation from my normal route and add 2/3 minutes (if he was ready on time each morning )

I can feel that I will soon be asked if I would run him back and forth 'on my way' to and from work

I do not want to do this. My problem is that firstly I do not agree that young people should be chaufered around because they can't be arsed to get off their backsides and go to work and secondly I love driving by myself so much.

When I first had a job when I left 'skool' I cycled to work every single day in all weathers. It was 8 miles away but that was fine, there was a guy I worked with at that time who lived near me whom I could have asked to take me to work but I would NEVER ask this of anyone. I was brought up to account for my own responsibilities and never to sponge off of others. Things seem different now and these young layabouts expect to be run everywhere in cars

So would I look like I'm being deliberately awkard or selfish here or would you agree that people should get themselves to work each day?

Oh, and this chap's not exactly your ideal work buddy if you know what I mean

[djp30djp]

Car sharing is agreat idea both cost wise & environmentaly BUT,
1 The person getting the "lift" has to pay their way.
2 You have to "get on" otherwise you may as well take the bus and travel with other people you don't know or like.
I work with people who have car shared for years but they all pay their "share".

[steve_earwig]

Tricky. Morally, providing he's not a parasite and will pay his way, then you don't have much of a leg to stand on - too much traffic etc.etc. Maybe you should point out that "paying his way" not only includes half the cost of fuel, it also includes half the cost of repairs...

I doubt there's any incentives in the UK for car sharing, in the US you even get a lane on the freeway.

[tux2006]

I would refuse, at 21 he is old enough to sort out his own arrangements to work.
The whole point of car sharing is you share the car driving but if he has no car then that defeats the object entirely.

I understand its economical and good for the environment but were all allowed to be selfish now and again.

Or you could say yes, then just burp/fart/sing your way to work so badly, that after a week, the lad gets so sick of it he will simply refuse to get in the car with you and find his own way to work.

[steve_earwig]

Or you could say yes, then just burp/fart/sing your way to work so badly, that after a week, the lad gets so sick of it he will simply refuse to get in the car with you and find his own way to work.

Or drive like a complete and utter loon.

Hold on, share the driving? He could drive your car, you'd have to insure him on your policy and he'd have to pay half the cost of that too! (YES, I AM JOKING - DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!)

Final suggestion - go to the fishmongers, get some old fish, stick it in your car...

[DaiRees]

I car-shared for years in my previous job, a colleague who I got on with very well lived about 30 miles from work, but had to pass near to my house (about half the distance) on his way to work, so one week he'd pick me up, then the next week he'd park at my house and we'd take my car. 'Twas great 'cos we were able to talk crap in the car each way, financially beneficial, and we could both use the excuse that we couldn't stay late or we'd "miss our lift". I've tried it occasionally with other people but if you have to go more than a couple of minutes out of your way to pick them up it's a real pain in the arse.

When I was in Uni I also car-shared, a good mate who lived near me was on the same course, so we took our cars alternate weeks, again that woorked great because we were always 'round each others houses anyway. But after a while a third lad joined in, he didn't have a car so we decided that 50p each way would be fair (well we were all students and it was a long time ago ) and every Friday he'd settle up with whichever one of us was driving. There were clear rules, like if he wasn't ready in the Morning he'd get left behind, we'd pick him up in the mornings but he had to find us for the journey home (or he'd get left behind), if he didn't pay one week he'd didn't get picked up the following Monday.

Welly I'd suggest that the rules get laid down, if his place is off your ususal route then arrange to pick him up at the nearest point on the usual route (at a bus stop or a shop with a canopy to give him some shelter ), and make it clear that if he isn't there when you pass you won't be waiting. Also drop him off in the same place. If you need to work late he can find his home way home or wait, but if he's working late that's his problem, you ain't waiting..... you know what I mean. Oh and be sure to take a small payment.

[DaiRees]

Or say no

[Welly]

I was thinking if I drove like a chav with 'issues' and played Terry Wogan on Volume 6/loud then it should only last a week anyway

I'm just going to say no, f*ck it, selfish is good for me and heated leather is too good for him

[V6Exec]

Why not just quote the "I" word, if your employer requires you to collect aother staff members your insurance may not cover that journey.

There is the "hire and reward" clause in insurance policies, how do you prove that that is not part of your employment, for which you are paid.

[STALLED]

I do from university - its a 25km drive accross town for me but for the others to get home, I just drop them at the bus stop at the top of my street because it takes forever getting through the CBD on public transport. They don't chip in for petrol though but they shout me drinks down at the pub!

What shits me off though is being a booze taxi for people - Last time I looked I was not a complimentatry mini cab!

[steve_earwig]

Holy thread resurrections Batman! I just saw thison the good ol' Bullshit Broacasting Company website.

Car-sharing cameras to be tested

Enforcing the lanes has previously been a problem. In the US drivers often trick police and cameras with dummies and even large dogs to allow them use lanes reserved for more than one person.

The new camera developed at Loughborough University can see how many people are in a car by detecting water and blood content.

Bucket of pig's blood anyone?

[teamster1975]

You've got a real love for Auntie haven't you Steve!
Great story, I had a good giggle!