As you are aware, the Government is committed to reducing air pollution and traffic congestion, and to improving the livability of the urban environment. Key objectives being pursued include a reduction in emissions from motor vehicles and a reduction in the rate of projected growth in motor vehicle use.

One practical means of achieving these ends is to utilise car pooling or ride share schemes. Ride share schemes aim to cut the number of single-occupancy car journeys for trips to and from work.

The State Government recently participated in the launch of one particular scheme - Easy Share - for the Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle regions. Easy Share is a computerised car sharing scheme created to match participants according to timing, destination and travel preferences. Easy Share Pty Ltd has received financial support from the RTA and the NRMA.

The Government is keen to see such schemes taken up by staff in public sector agencies.

This will also set an example for the community and the private sector. I encourage all CEO's to promote ride share schemes within your agencies.

A representative of Easy Share (Richard Seymour) may be in contact with you in the near future or you may wish to contact him on 9389 5599 to discuss your agency's possible participation in the scheme. Material provided by Easy Share is attached for your information.

A copy of an RTA brief is also attached. Further information may be obtained from John Grinsell at the RTA on ph: 9218 6817 or fax: 9218 6167

Col Gellatly
Director General

BRIEFING ON THE EASY SHARE CAR POOLING SCHEME

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ISSUE

Easy Share have launched a demonstration car pooling scheme for the Greater Sydney Region, aiming at 100,000 membership.

OVERVIEW OF THE SCHEME

• The Easy Share Scheme is a dynamic car pooling/ride sharing concept. It will operate by members calling a central computer by touch phone to register their request or offer, using a PIN number. Following a database search for a match, the caller will telephone the matching party to confirm trip details.
• Easy Share submitted a Business Plan to the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) based on a 3-year Research and Development project which was funded by the Commonwealth Energy Research Development Corporation (ERDC). The RTA has carried out investigations into the company and the plan, and consulted with other relevant Government agencies. Easy Share is the only company to date to submit a detailed and fully costed proposal backed by significant research. They have a scheme which can be implemented on a large scale at a metropolitan level.
• An independent technical assessment of the feasibility of the scheme was carried out for the RTA by ARRB Transport Research Pty Ltd who recommended that the RTA support the scheme, subject to the results of the market research in Sydney.