Flexible Carpooling in Seattle June 2008 By Paul Minett, Co-Founder and President, Trip Convergence Ltd

Or… Providing people working in the region with a new alternative to help them reduce fuel use

Commuters are interested in alternatives to driving alone Gas prices are rising at a shocking rate People are aware of their carbon footprint A shift is happening: less driving, more public transport use But… what happens once the buses are full?

Gas prices are rising at a shocking rate

People are aware of their carbon footprint

A shift is happening: less driving, more public transport use

But… what happens once the buses are full?

We need to change how we think about the problem Do we need more buses and infrastructure? Or can we decrease the burden on existing buses and infrastructure? Let’s talk about how.

Do we need more buses and infrastructure?

Or can we decrease the burden on existing buses and infrastructure?

Let’s talk about how.

Make it easier for people to carpool and vanpool

Challenge Question What percent occupancy is needed for a bus, every mile or minute it operates, to be as energy efficient, or carbon efficient, as a carpool with three people in it?

What percent occupancy is needed for a bus, every mile or minute it operates, to be as energy efficient, or carbon efficient, as a carpool with three people in it?

Imagine a taxi stand for carpoolers In San Francisco 6,000 people shared a ride with 3,000 drivers without being prearranged. In Washington DC 6,500 people shared a ride with 3,200 drivers without being prearranged. Similarly in Houston Texas Three carpooling systems that work, 5,000 others that do not work so well…..

In San Francisco 6,000 people shared a ride with 3,000 drivers without being prearranged.

In Washington DC 6,500 people shared a ride with 3,200 drivers without being prearranged.

Similarly in Houston Texas

Three carpooling systems that work, 5,000 others that do not work so well…..

Flexibility is the key to making carpooling work

Flexible carpooling animation Visit www.hoverport.org and view the Youtube animation (This was shown during the presentation). Note that this shows: A driver on the right side of the vehicle (made in NZ) A covered parking garage (it doesn’t have to be) The word ‘decal’, pronounced in a different way A working title that we are not going to use (hoverport)

Visit www.hoverport.org and view the Youtube animation (This was shown during the presentation).

Note that this shows:

A driver on the right side of the vehicle (made in NZ)

A covered parking garage (it doesn’t have to be)

The word ‘decal’, pronounced in a different way

A working title that we are not going to use (hoverport)

So, we can increase the number of people per car Develop/acquire parking at peripheral locations Make it easy to form carpools and vanpools in those locations Create taxi stands for poolers for the evening journey

Develop/acquire parking at peripheral locations

Make it easy to form carpools and vanpools in those locations

Create taxi stands for poolers for the evening journey

We have the technology and the systems Software Vehicle Transceiver Personal ID Card Personal ID Card Driver: Paul Rider 1: John Rider 2: George Destination: Abbey Lane Trip Record Infra red data RF data WLAN Infra red trigger Reader ID Card Database Trip Database Lookup Store Trigger Biometric

It is cost effective Parking occurs outside the center Is like a really frequent express bus service, without the cost of the buses, drivers, operating subsidies, and it has a 1-3 minute headway Can be done now Reduces total traffic, big energy and emissions savings We estimate it saves San Francisco over $30 million per year

Parking occurs outside the center

Is like a really frequent express bus service, without the cost of the buses, drivers, operating subsidies, and it has a 1-3 minute headway

Can be done now

Reduces total traffic, big energy and emissions savings

We estimate it saves San Francisco over $30 million per year

Trip Convergence has brought it this far Developed the technologies and systems Developed the specifications for implementation Pulled together top marketing team for consumer engagement

Developed the technologies and systems

Developed the specifications for implementation

Pulled together top marketing team for consumer engagement

What we need you to do (if you are interested) Help us find trial locations Help us find investors Support earmark funding request

Help us find trial locations

Help us find investors

Support earmark funding request

Answer to Challenge Question What percent occupancy is needed for a bus, every mile or minute it operates, to be as energy efficient, or carbon efficient, as a carpool with three people in it? The bus needs to have an average occupancy of 30% to be as efficient as a three person carpool, 40% to be as efficient as a four person carpool. This is difficult if the bus has a deadhead each round trip!

What percent occupancy is needed for a bus, every mile or minute it operates, to be as energy efficient, or carbon efficient, as a carpool with three people in it?

The bus needs to have an average occupancy of 30% to be as efficient as a three person carpool, 40% to be as efficient as a four person carpool.

This is difficult if the bus has a deadhead each round trip!

Contact Details Email: [email_address] Phone: +64 9 412 7452 Mobile: +64 21 289 8444 Snail Mail: PO Box 042, Albany Village, Auckland, New Zealand Websites: www.flexiblecarpooling.org www.hoverport.org www.lesscarsinnewyork.com www.hoverport.org

Email: [email_address]

Phone: +64 9 412 7452

Mobile: +64 21 289 8444

Snail Mail: PO Box 042, Albany Village, Auckland, New Zealand

Websites:

www.flexiblecarpooling.org

www.hoverport.org

www.lesscarsinnewyork.com

www.hoverport.org