Charlotte Observer
Published Sat, Jun. 12, 2004

Putting newcomers on road to friendship
Outdoor club's Web site helps members find car pool partners

By Gail Smith-Arrants

Lindsay Spence had commuted to Presbyterian Hospital by herself, spending about $20 a week for her trek from uptown to her home in SouthPark. Then, two weeks ago Spence, a social worker, found a car pooler through her Charlotte Outdoor Adventures club (CHOA). Since then, she said, she's cut her commuting gas bill in half, to $10 a week.

And on Thursday, another club member joined her car pool from SouthPark, lowering the costs even more.
"It's been working quite nicely so far," said Spence, 30, who moved here from St. Louis four years ago. "It's a huge benefit for me, as well as the convenience of doing less driving. It's more relaxing."

In these days of spiraling gas prices and traffic headaches, Charlotte Outdoor Adventures, a club catering to newcomers, is trying to help people make new friends while easing their commute.

The club just started an Internet-based car-pooling system so members can connect with others who commute from the same area. The organization already uses car pooling extensively for its more than 100 monthly social, cultural and outdoors events.

"As gas prices started going up, we said, `We all car pool to events together. Wouldn't it make sense to use it for work as well?' " said CHOA board member Karlei Womack, 31.

Car pooling saves significantly on gas money, is convenient, less stressful, more fun and good for the environment, club members say.

"It's the money, but more than the money ... Charlotte is getting so busy and we're polluting so bad. It's more of an environmental issue with me," said Debra Dampier, 45, who works at Duke Power and is Spence's car pool mate.

Dampier had been driving her 1994 Honda Civic from SouthPark until their third car pooler, Wes Kemmerlin, joined as the designated driver Thursday.

Open to the public

The Charlotte Area Transit System also allows motorists to register for car pools on the CATS Web site at www.ridetransit.org. Click on "car pooling" on the right-hand rail.Jean Leier, a CATS spokeswoman, said any car poolers can use the free CATS park-and-ride lots (also found on the Web site) to meet up with other members of a car pool.

"We anticipate more car pooling once the HOV lanes open up in October," Leier said.

By mid-October, I-77 will have one High Occupancy Vehicle lane in each direction, designated only for vehicles with two or more occupants.

The northbound HOV lane will start north of I-85 and run to near Gilead Road in Huntersville. The southbound HOV lane will start south of Gilead Road and run to the Brookshire Freeway.

Kemmerlin, 42, who works at Bank of America, said he expects the HOV lanes to be an incentive for more people to car pool and share gas costs. He said a tankful for his Mercedes convertible used to cost $20, but now is $30.
"It's just something to do to help the environment and save you some money at the same time," he said of car pooling.

Some businesses encourage car pooling and the use of mass transit among employees. But CHOA provides a ready-made, Internet-savvy base of professionals who want to meet other club members and save money, said club co-owner Kent Walker. The club has about 1,200 members and many work in banking, finance or high-tech industries, he said. He said 80 percent are transients "from just all over."
"A lot of people moving here don't know anybody, so it's a good ice-breaker for them," Walker said.

"Car pooling provides a good way to make friends. Inevitably, you're going to talk about your life on the way to work," said Womack, the CHOA board member.

Transportation-friendly

Ditto for the car pool from SouthPark. The ride Thursday morning was smooth as silk, Dampier said. On their way in, Dampier and her fellow car poolers talked about local restaurants and "The Bob & Sheri Show" playing on the radio.

Kemmerlin drove in record time, including dropping Spence off at Presbyterian and then Dampier for her walk to Duke Power. Dampier even had a few minutes to grab a latte at the uptown Dean & DeLuca. "A lot of the stress is gone," she said. "It's great being chauffeured."

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Gail Smith-Arrants writes Living Here every Saturday in The Charlotte Observer's Local section. She offers advice to newcomers, and answers questions. You can reach her at newcomer@charlotteobserver.com, or call (704) 377-4444 and enter category 2300.