"Little Einsteins, we're going on a trip in our favourite rocket ship, zooming through the sky." Don't worry, this isn't a space mission article; you're still on our carpool website. And we're here to talk to you and try to persuade you to carpool. It's always fun to travel with other people because conversations, jokes, and even music sound better when there are other people around. But is carpooling really this interesting and fun after all? Or is it just a quick taxi? Let's put on our digging job boots and dig a little deeper. What is it to carpool? There is no secret message; carpooling is as easy as it sounds. People who carpool and use only one vehicle to get to work each day share the same route. This is something that most people who live in the same apartment complex and work in the same area do. Think of it as a taxi running quickly. We all look for the best way to get to work, one that will save us time and money and get us there quickly. Carpooling in Nigeria is the answer to both of these problems, but we don't seem to think about it. Why? Nigerians share cars. Is it something to do with how we have brought up in (community of people/all good people in the world)? Is there something under this green solution that most people don't know but all fighters do, like something about the health of the Earth or the environment? We're willing to pay a lot for the fastest taxi, even though we don't know for sure if it's the best way to get to work. Well, the real thing that keeps people from carpooling is the way we act and think. Let's look at each aspect of our behaviour that affects our choice to carpool. The way Nigerians think about car sharing We Nigerians have a lot of feelings about our cars. A little bump on the side will make Nigerian fathers get very angry. Even though it's been used for more than a year, the plastic covers are still there. There is a variety of reasons why Nigerians are slow to act in linking their cars to a carpool website. Here are some of the reasons why: *Social Status In Nigeria, having a car is a sign that you've made it. No wonder 'Ghar and Gaadi' always go hand-in-hand. Owning a vehicle means owning your life, here! So it makes sense that sharing a car means sharing a life. And Nigerians are not ready to lose their social and financial standing. "I want to attach my car to the company," imagine talking about/saying this in front of the family. *Connection to the Car on an Emotional Level What do most Nigerian families do as soon as they get a car? Take it to church/mosque for prayers. Soon, a small god starts to decorate the dashboard and use his or her powers to get rid of the traffic jam. This car is more than just something I own. Do you remember all the promises and "mother swears" you had to make to get your parents to let you go for a ride in the car? Yes! It's hard to get these people to sign up their (very valuable/very much loved) cars on a carpool website. Because at the end of the day, someone will use their valuable thing as a taxi. How could they allow that to happen? *Reluctance to go on trips with strangers In a country like ours, it makes sense to be wary of travelling with people you don't know. People like to go places they've been before with people they already know. Even though they all try to be the best way to get to work, the big carpool websites still have trouble getting rid of this hesitation. *Co-passenger Behavior Problem with two sides I want to link my car to the company, but that doesn't mean I should be treated like a driver. You are in charge of your car, and even a short request from a carpool passenger can set you off. The uncle who pokes you and tells you to stay in your lane or the aunt who complains about the AC. Who wants to hear more commands from a person they don't know? This is a common problem that most carpool websites have to deal with often. Nigerians share cars. *There is a time limit It's not embarrassing to say that Nigerians usually don't respect each other's time. Being on time all the time isn't always important. But when I get a car of my own. If I'm done for the day, why should I wait for the rest? True! Also, carpooling might be the best way to get to work, but that depends on the people in the carpool (always being on time). And one person's delay shouldn't cause problems for other people. Another thing stopping people. What's different over time? While these changes did have an effect on the early days of carpooling, But the way people in Nigeria think is changing now. People, especially those who work, have started to see their own cars as more than just valuable things; they see them as useful things and valuable supplies. The Motor Vehicles Act isn't clear about what to do about people who share rides in Nigeria. Carpool websites and apps are trying to solve this big problem by getting people to link their cars to companies that make car sharing possible (able to be done). Carpool rides can be had for as little as N15/km from companies like GomywayRide. This can help people save up to N5,000 that they would have spent on their daily commutes otherwise. Not only does carpool work like a quick taxi, but the different ways to pay make the daily commute easy. No cash handling. Best ride to office should fight traffic, provide an easy parking place. Right! But more cars on the road make it hard for every private car owner to drive. Nigeria's traffic jam problem is being worked on by the Federal and state governments as well as big/enough carpool websites. *Verified User (raised, flat supporting surface) A website for carpooling like GomywayRide has two or three levels of checking for truth. This checking for truthfulness is done on the user's professional and personal information. Also, after the ride is over, users can review and rate each other. When someone gets bad reviews on the carpool website, their name goes on a list of bad people. It's better than the other choices. *Communication Flow between the Riders Once you've invited or joined a carpool ride, you can easily communicate with your fellow carpool riders. No more calling taxi drivers to ask them not to cancel on you. You are in charge of your ride when you carpool. *Repeat and Favorite Rides The Carpool website was made so that people going in the same direction could share a car. Because you're going to the same place at the same time, it's likely that you'll end up carpooling with the same people. GomywayRide lets riders make their own favourite routes that they can ride again and again. You will be told about your next ride without having to do anything. Your own little carpool group is the best way to get to work. Costs not too much Instead of paying N100/km for a taxi, carpooling lets you get around for as little as N15/km. You can also set your own price on websites and apps like GomywayRide that let you carpool. This is good for people who take the same route often and know how much it costs.
