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Rideshare: 'It's like online dating for your car'

Person No. 1 is looking for someone. He goes online, enters his information and finds a match.

After making a connection, he and person No. 2 start going together because they know going together is easier and less expensive than going alone.

Welcome to the Wisconsin Rideshare Program, or as program manager Karen Schmiechen calls it, "online dating for your car."

The Rideshare program matches commuters with potential carpools, vanpools, park-and-ride lots or even bicycle buddies. It's free through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Until recently, the program only served southeastern Wisconsin and people who commute into Madison.

Now, anyone in the state can use the program.

Kyle Herwig, Janesville, used to fill his gas tank twice a week commuting to downtown Madison for his job with Dane County. Then co-worker Michelle Vick heard about the Rideshare program and set up a carpool with Herwig. The two take turns driving, and Herwig has cut his gas use in half, he said.

"It helps tremendously, especially when the gas prices do go back up," he said.

Deb Lyons-Roehl, Janesville, used Rideshare in 2001 to find a vanpool to her job at the state Department of Natural Resources in Madison.

"I got on a van as soon as I could because the cost to park downtown is quite high, and it's just easier than driving every day," she said.

The vanpool works well with her schedule and prevents wear and tear on her vehicle, she said. She pays about $50 every two weeks.

"It's worked out well as far as saving money and getting where you need to go," she said.

The state expanded the program after receiving requests from around Wisconsin when gas prices spiked last year, Schmiechen said. Even though prices have dropped, it's still a good way to save money during the recession, she said.

Participants enter their commute and contact information on the Web site, Schmiechen said.

"Immediately their matches will come up online," she said. "Then it's up to the people who are contacting each other to arrange the carpool together. It's a no-obligation program."

They can log back in anytime to check for new matches or update their information.

Last year, 3,600 new users registered in southeastern Wisconsin and the Madison area, she said. She hopes even more sign up for the expanded program.

"Hopefully that will encourage more people from across the state, as word gets out that it's there, to help start building the databases," she said.

More online

For more information about the Wisconsin Rideshare Program, go online to www.rideshare.wi.gov.