Car share
With over 38 million empty seats on the UK's roads every day it is now starting to be widely recognised that car sharing could be the solution to many of the UK's transport problems.
Car sharing is when two or more people share a car and travel together. It's something many of us do all the time without thinking about it, but there are some occasions when you might want to share a car and don't know anyone going your way.
Travelling in a pair or a group can often be more fun and better for individuals, the community and the environment. There are several reasons for this:
- It can save you money.
- It can reduce pollution from car emissions.
- It gives you company.
- It can reduce local congestion on roads and in car parks.
- It can save you time.
- It can be safer (e.g. having company if you breakdown) and less stressful than doing all the driving yourself.
- The online database could help you find someone to ask for a lift, if your car is in the garage or otherwise unavailable.
- You can make new friends and meet your neighbours.
- It can reduce the use of limited fossil fuels.
The University's Car Share Scheme
The University of Kent recognises the benefits of car sharing and has teamed up with The University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University, The University of Creative Arts and Mid Kent College to develop a private online car share scheme for staff and students.
How can you get involved?
By registering on the web site it might be possible to team you up with colleagues and friends who travel to or from the same area as you. The larger the database of registered users the greater the chance of finding a match, so please register yourself and encourage others to do so.
How does the University car share scheme work?
To increase the chances of staff or students being able to find someone else making similar journeys we have teamed up with other academic institutions that are also located in Kent. These include The University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University, The University of Creative Arts and Mid Kent College.
The five institutions have jointly developed the 5HARE scheme. It enables you to find someone to share a journey within your own institution or broaden your search to staff and students elsewhere.
To register with the scheme you will need your University email address and details of your journey(s). Once you have registered a journey the software will look for other members with a suitable match and alert you. It is then up to you to get in contact and make arrangements. You don't have to be offering a lift, you can also register as someone looking for a lift (or both). The more people that register journeys the better chance of finding a convenient match.
What incentive does the University offer students to car share?
Students who are sharing their journeys with other students who live outside the local exclusion zone can pay for one permit and share it with the driver of another vehicle. If you are a Medway student you will need a car share barrier card.
What incentive does the University offer staff to car share to and from their work place?
You can apply for a car share permit as a 'team' (£15 per member) and display all permits as normal. You can use any parking space in accordance with the UoK Traffic Regulations and the car share guidelines.
If a member of the team needs to bring another car onto campus, in addition to the car share vehicle being used that day, occasional user permits (OUPs) are available, in accordance with the car share guidelines.
Please ensure you read the guidelines and download and complete an application form, which must be sent to the Transport and Parking section, Estates Department.
What incentive do UoK staff have to share their journey for University business?
The University pays 45p per mile if you use your own car for travelling on University business, in accordance with the University's Employee Personal Expenditure policy. If you share the journey with another member of staff you can also claim 5p per mile per passenger.