Ride-sharing Strategies for the Holidays
Talk on the phone first. Getting into a car with someone you have never met before is not always the most appealing prospect. So, you should learn as much about the person as you can beforehand or even meet before your trip. "On craigslist, someone can call me, and I can talk to them on the phone a little bit, and then you have a better chance of knowing if they are crazy or not and if you want to be in a car with that person," says Eller. "When you talk to someone on the phone, it's really important to keep your wits about you and use your best judgment. If someone sounds a little off, call someone else."
Ask for references. Even if someone makes a good impression on the phone, it's still a good idea to get a second opinion. "You should meet the person in a public place before you get in a car with them," says Schoeffler. "Ask for three personal references and call them." You may also want to make a copy of the driver's license. "If you are going to be a passenger, you want to make sure it's a safe driver," says Jim Buckmaster, the CEO of craigslist. "Because you're depending on whoever is going to be doing the driving to be safe." Unlike craigslist, Ridester.com allows ride sharers to provide positive, negative, or neutral feedback about previous carmates so that future riders will better know what to expect.
State your preferences. You should discuss personal preferences with the driver before you enter the car. You may want to find out the driver's or passenger's age, gender, and smoking habits; whether pets are allowed in the car; how much luggage you can bring; and even music preferences. "Be specific on what you want, what your hours are, and if you're flexible," says Adam Wisniewski, owner and founder of CarPoolConnect.com [www.carpoolconnect.com]. It's also a good idea to discuss payment before the trip commences.
Be selective. Don't take the first ride that comes along just because it's heading in the correct direction. "If you ever feel uncomfortable in a situation, you should never hesitate to say I'm not able to offer a ride," says Jake Boshernitzan, the CEO of Ridester.com. Adds Eller, "As a woman it's probably a good idea to go with only women drivers instead of going alone with some strange dude. The first time I went with a male driver who was also picking up another couple, I sent a text message with his license plate to my sister and boyfriend so someone would know the license plate number of the car I was last seen getting into." Eller made it to Los Angeles and back safely.
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