Zimride gains momentum

Since its IU premiere almost nine months ago, the IU Student Association sponsored
ride-sharing service, Zimride, has reached more than 2,000 active users, according to a press release Wednesday.

Zimride allows IU-Bloomington students, faculty and staff to browse and post shared rides. The website, www.zimride.com, states that ride sharing is an effort to both decrease fuel costs and make travel more sustainable.

Drivers can post specific times and dates of their travels, and riders can search through driver profiles in order to find the best price.

The carpooling system can be used for a daily commute or for one-time events.
Access to the site is free for all members through IUSA, and  profiles can be linked to Facebook, according to www.zimride.com.

“People who live as far away as Indianapolis are finding carpool partners because of Zimride,” IUSA transportation officer Devon Thomas said in a press release Wednesday. “Lots of people are finding commutes, and we expect students to find rides for one-time trips to basketball games, the airport or home for the weekend.”

Kristen Bellisario, Zimride member and Jacobs School of Music adjunct lecturer, said she finds the service quite user-friendly and streamlined. Bellisario said she uses the site for her daily 1 1/2 hour commute from Indianapolis to Bloomington.

“This system is far better than the old system,” Bellisario said. “Zimride has the potential to be a fantastic resource.”

As of Friday, Zimride has saved IUB drivers 597,986 miles and prevented 464,038 pounds of potential carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, according to the
service’s website.

“I think it’s a really innovative idea,” freshman Melissa Showalter said. “It takes the traditional idea of carpooling to a new level that is more accessible to people, especially college students.”

Showalter said she was surprised by the affordability and convenience of Zimride, which she said she believes could be cheaper than traditional public transportation methods.

Thomas said he looks to the future and the continued success of Zimride.

“As we near the end of the first full year of Zimride, we hope to see at least 3,000
registered users and would like to match tens of thousands of individual rides,” Thomas said.


Visit www.zimride.com/iub for more information.