Sustainable Transportation and Grounds in UIC - University of ...

Report to UIC 38 Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy
way, who wishes to carpool to UIC. A more formal approach,
using ridematching, is ridesharing. Ridematching is a
computerized service that allows commuters find other
commuters who want to start or join a carpool or vanpool.
Ridematching programs have proven to be a successful
method of reducing carbon footprints, as well as easing the
stresses of commuting to work for employees in both
educational institutions and other work environments. We
recommend that the following services be explored for the UIC
community:
• Promote existing rideshare opportunities, such as the
program provided by Pace, as an interim rideshare
program.
• Ridematching as an online service: By creating a
comprehensive ridematching website and survey, UIC
can offer consistency, flexibility and security to its
employees. The system can connect UIC faculty/staff to
carpooling possibilities in their communities. Ridematch
21 is a Chicago-based system and GoLoCo is a national
system that has been successful in generating carpools.
A key reason why many individuals are hesitant to use
ridematched carpools is that they may have to share a
ride with complete strangers who they may not be
comfortable with. A possibility to ensure confidence in
the system is to have employees screen those with
whom they would agree to share a ride.
• Real-time, dynamic ridematching systems using wireless
technologies: As a long-term strategy, a demonstration
project should be attempted to operationalize real-time,
dynamic Ridematching systems using Personal Digital
Assistants, cell phones and other mobile devices, using
Mobile Ad-Hoc Network Technology and other
technologies using peer-to-peer systems and wireless
communications methods. Such technologies are being
experimented with as a part of the Computation
Transportation Science IGERT Ph.D. program. Again the
issue of having a trusted entity operating the system
would entail that users are given an opportunity to opt-in
and that potential ride-sharers are agreeable to the
individual seeking a ride. Social networks may be utilized
to fully implement such technologies. A full-scale
demonstration project could position UIC in the lead as
supporters of innovative technology that attempts to
“make it easy” for commuters to use sustainable, higheroccupancy
modes of transportation.
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