Drive Less Connect users spared 902,215 pounds of pollutants from being emitted by simply carpooling. The typical American household spent 8.4 percent of its income, or $4,155, buying gasoline this year. According to The Oregonian, that's the highest it has been since 1981. The average American family now works one month each year to buy fuel for the car, SUV or pickup.
Metro, the Oregon Department of Transportation and other transportation partners around the state are helping residents put more cash in their pockets and less down the gas tank by implementing Drive Less Connect, the state’s new online ride-matching tool that connects carpoolers and bike buddies.
Since the launch of Drive Less Connect in June 2011, commuters in the Portland metropolitan area avoided using 48,518 gallons of gasoline and saved $307,931 collectively by joining carpools, biking and riding transit.
The 1,700 users are saving thousands of dollars and helping keep the region’s air clean. Since the launch of the tool, Drive Less Connect, carpoolers and bikers kept 902,215 pounds of pollutants out of the air.
Want to save money on gas? Just add a couple passengers to your commute. Reducing the number of miles you travel alone is far more effective at saving fuel and money than buying a new car just to get better gas mileage.