| Skwez launches online carpool service in the Sea-to-Sky corridor |
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| Written by Submitted | ||||||
| Wednesday, 02 June 2010 07:06 | ||||||
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Squamish-based technology startup aims to change driving behaviour by making it easier, safer and more convenient for people to share rides. A young local Internet company, Skwez Technology Corp. (http://skwez.com pronounced "squeeze") launched today its online ride-sharing web site. Aimed at regular commuters and occasional travellers, the free service automatically matches people who travel in the same general direction, working through their time constraints. "We want to make it easy to arrange a shared trip online." says Manuel Zahariev, 11-year resident of Squamish and the founder of Skwez. "For most people, the constraints of a long-term carpool are incompatible with their work or lifestyle. If you take away the rigid schedule and long-term commitment, ride sharing can actually be a lot of fun. Few people go through the trouble to arrange sharing a one-off trip because it's just not easy, and most end up driving alone to Vancouver and back." Canadian Environment Week celebrates initiatives in tackling climate change. The launch happens during Canadian Environment Week (May 30-June 5). June 2 is Clean Air Day and World Environment Day is on June 5. Transportation has a significant environmental impact and represents a leading source of carbon dioxide, which is considered the principal contributor to global warming. Current emissions from transportation using light vehicles are estimated to be more than 3 billion tons annually, or approximately 6% of total human emissions. Commuting using a single occupancy vehicle is predominant in the industrialized world. In Canada, 72.3% of trips to and from work are by lone drivers (75% in the United States and over 80% in Australia). In small towns in Canada, we are some of the worst offenders, driving twice or three times the distance of the average daily commute. Carpooling currently accounts for only a modest portion of overall personal transportation. For example, in the USA, carpooling participation in 2004 was an average 10%, ranging between 7% and 16% in different states. Most people point to the lack of flexibility or control and the effort required to organize a carpool as main reasons not to participate in ride sharing. The Skwez web site, which will be in its "beta" phase during the month of June, is well suited for the needs of Sea-to-Sky residents, where a substantial portion of the population is moving along the corridor on a daily basis. "Our goal is to build a global community of transportation, where people will have quick and seamless access to shared rides" says Zahariev. "We want to make it simpler than finding parking downtown. We are at the beginning of a very exciting journey. Join us and we can change the planet. The revolution starts now, right here in Squamish."
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