Somehow this seems to be an idea that comes up from time to time, I wonder if anyone has pulled off a successful service based on this yet. Just a few months ago I was talking to someone entering a business plan contest with this very idea.
You should definitely tell your friend to do this idea -- I know I needed the service this weekend and there have been multiple times this would have helped!
Supply and Demand has to meet up especially in the early days. You'd also have to focus on a specific geography. Girls are going to be harder to attract to. I think it would be a useful service. Possibly tie it to events (like AirBnB did for the inauguration). My honest thought? Start it out as an email list like HARO. Emails queries of those looking for rides to people everyday.
I wonder what the insurance implications of this would be... I'm pretty sure my auto insurance policy forbids me from using my car for business purposes, and this sounds uncomfortably close to that.
On the other hand, I know that there's nothing wrong (insurance-wise) with accepting gas money from a friend... and, to push it further, if a friend of a friend needed a lift somewhere that I was already going, my insurance would probably be fine with that, and I'd definitely accept gas money in that situation...
There are social problems here. It's awkward sitting next to a stranger for any amount of time. Even if the stranger has headphones on and is tuned out. It might just not be worth the 20 bucks in gas compared with the awkwardness.
There are definitely some issues. But maybe you could specify your preference for a quiet vs. chatty person.
Also, I'm anticipating this could help for people in a pinch as well. I know I would have put up with just about anything to get a non-bus ride up to Boston!
There's also the scheduling problem: One of the reasons going by car is attractive, is the flexibility of leaving exactly when you're ready, not a second sooner or later. If you're picking someone up, you have a certain pressure to do it somewhat close to the agreed time. Also, there's the risk of your passenger running late. Very few people will be ruthless enough to just take off without waiting for a while.
Finally, there's insurance and taxi boards. The first can be handled (e.g. as a part of the booking process you buy a second policy covering the passenger or something like that), the second can't, and will kill this idea dead.
I am a senior at the University of Delaware and I live in New Jersey. There are a couple of underclassmen here at UD from my home town who don't have cars and I have given them rides during the holidays. Even driving across campus, setting up a time/place to meet, and making sure that our exam schedules coincide can be a hassle when I am ready to head out immediately but they are not.
If I used this service and agreed to drive someone who did not show up for 15-20min I would be very annoyed and probably not use it again (even though I would be getting gas money).
Perhaps they can develop in some kind of rating to describe how punctual previous users have been. Then, I could write on their profile that they were late and other people would be aware of their tendencies before they agreed to give them a lift. This wouldn't work for first time users of the service though, since they would have no history...
I kinda suspect the majority of this kind of traveler wouldn't be viewing it as an "on-time every time" mode of travel, just as AirBnB users aren't expecting hotel-style lodgings. I'm thinking it would just be a modern-day replacement for hitch-hiking...you're not sure when you'll get where you're going, you're not sure which route you'll take, but you're certain to meet someone new and probably learn something.
Of course, in places where there is no reasonable mass transit option, and for distances short enough to make flying too expensive or inconvenient (I'd rather drive from LA to SF than deal with flying, for example), it could possibly be a more efficient carpool creation tool. There are folks who make the same trip every week and hooking them up could be a useful endeavor, as well. In such a case, obviously, being on-time would be more important.
Maybe allowing selection of leisure or business travel would be a useful option.
Finally, there's insurance and taxi boards. The first can be handled (e.g. as a part of the booking process you buy a second policy covering the passenger or something like that), the second can't, and will kill this idea dead.
Why not just run the site outside of the US? Who are the insurance companies and taxi boards going to come after? (A disclaimer like, "you may not use this site if you live in the US" could also be helpful for handling any lawsuits. Very much like Youtube is not liable if someone uploads child porn; their policy said not to do that, and it's your fault for doing it, not Google's.)
Insurance, no, because that's going to happen to the users, not the operator. When someone crashed and the driver is sued for everything by his insurance company because they found out it was a for-profit-ride, it doesn't matter where the service is run from.
Taxi boards, sure, formally. Although, I've heard that the primary deterrent for running a pirate-taxi-service in Copenhagen Saturday night (that's ridiculously under-served by taxis, thanks to the taxi-board) is getting beaten up. The problem would be less for such a pre-arranged service, you'll look like you're picking up a friend, not soliciting, but it's still a bit of a risk to take, IMHO.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea very much, I'm just a bit pessimistic on the systemic challenges.
The social problems are the same with AirBnB, and yet it seems to be doing pretty well. Having someone in your house is even more dramatic than having them sit next to you for a few hours on a drive. I think it's part of the appeal for many people; while it's not really safe to hitch-hike, it's a pretty cool way to see the country and meet new people.
I enjoyed using AirBnB (as a host), though I was extremely selective about who stayed and when. Now that I live in an RV and travel all the time, I'd probably be down with having a co-pilot every once in a while during drives.
AirBnB and Couchsurfing both do pretty well with mixing strangers; the bigger problem is probably that the users would have to keep updating a rideshare site with their own plans, and the site would have to battle jitney drivers' attempting to take over and spam quite often (I would guess).
More to the point, though I hate playing the fearful American, when using Couchsurfing or AirBnB, you know the host's address. When you get in a car, you could end up anywhere.
First off, I think AirBnB already falls under "travel". This is just a rideshare idea. Craigslist has this already–if their rideshare section was as big as, say, their dating section then I'd say "great idea. make a site for it." ... but it isn't.
For most people, I'm guessing the free gas does not outweigh the inconvenience of coordinating the pickup and/or going even slightly out of one's way.
Great business ideas save people time and/or money. This is saving people a little money at the expense of their time.
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[ 6.8 ms ] story [ 64.7 ms ] threadOn the other hand, I know that there's nothing wrong (insurance-wise) with accepting gas money from a friend... and, to push it further, if a friend of a friend needed a lift somewhere that I was already going, my insurance would probably be fine with that, and I'd definitely accept gas money in that situation...
And what if the person you're riding with is too chatty and you just wanted to nap the whole ride? :)
Also, I'm anticipating this could help for people in a pinch as well. I know I would have put up with just about anything to get a non-bus ride up to Boston!
Finally, there's insurance and taxi boards. The first can be handled (e.g. as a part of the booking process you buy a second policy covering the passenger or something like that), the second can't, and will kill this idea dead.
If I used this service and agreed to drive someone who did not show up for 15-20min I would be very annoyed and probably not use it again (even though I would be getting gas money).
Perhaps they can develop in some kind of rating to describe how punctual previous users have been. Then, I could write on their profile that they were late and other people would be aware of their tendencies before they agreed to give them a lift. This wouldn't work for first time users of the service though, since they would have no history...
Just a thought.
Of course, in places where there is no reasonable mass transit option, and for distances short enough to make flying too expensive or inconvenient (I'd rather drive from LA to SF than deal with flying, for example), it could possibly be a more efficient carpool creation tool. There are folks who make the same trip every week and hooking them up could be a useful endeavor, as well. In such a case, obviously, being on-time would be more important.
Maybe allowing selection of leisure or business travel would be a useful option.
Why not just run the site outside of the US? Who are the insurance companies and taxi boards going to come after? (A disclaimer like, "you may not use this site if you live in the US" could also be helpful for handling any lawsuits. Very much like Youtube is not liable if someone uploads child porn; their policy said not to do that, and it's your fault for doing it, not Google's.)
Taxi boards, sure, formally. Although, I've heard that the primary deterrent for running a pirate-taxi-service in Copenhagen Saturday night (that's ridiculously under-served by taxis, thanks to the taxi-board) is getting beaten up. The problem would be less for such a pre-arranged service, you'll look like you're picking up a friend, not soliciting, but it's still a bit of a risk to take, IMHO.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea very much, I'm just a bit pessimistic on the systemic challenges.
(Car owner pays 25% of gas, guest pays 75%)
I enjoyed using AirBnB (as a host), though I was extremely selective about who stayed and when. Now that I live in an RV and travel all the time, I'd probably be down with having a co-pilot every once in a while during drives.
More to the point, though I hate playing the fearful American, when using Couchsurfing or AirBnB, you know the host's address. When you get in a car, you could end up anywhere.
For most people, I'm guessing the free gas does not outweigh the inconvenience of coordinating the pickup and/or going even slightly out of one's way.
Great business ideas save people time and/or money. This is saving people a little money at the expense of their time.