2008 Woodie Awards
Instructor seeks to connect commuters
University will offer ride share Web site for faculty, staff
Teri Harrington
With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon this summer, many drivers are seeking ways to save money while commuting. Ball State University instructor Pam Stigall has been searching for others to carpool from her home near New Castle to Muncie since last year. As part of this effort, Stigall is working with the university to create a Web site that would connect fellow drivers with one another.
Stigall said the increase in gas prices ignited her idea for a ride sharing program for the university's faculty and staff.
"It is costing me $50 at the current price of gas with my little 1993 Honda Accord, so I am not saving anything," she said.
After researching what other schools have come up with to relieve some stress among their faculties, Stigall said she was inspired by a Web site a fellow Indiana university faculty member created.
"I got on my daughter's school's [Web site], IUPUI, and they have a great ride sharing site, and it got me thinking," she said. "I listed an ad in the faculty bulletin board in February and again in May to no avail. I even drove around with a sign in my car window."
Although Stigall has yet to find anyone to ride along and ease the strain on her wallet, she said she has received many responses to her bulletin, which remains posted.
"I have about 20 e-mails from people in Marion, Indy, Fishers, Carmel and Richmond," she said.
Other Indiana universities have already made use of carpooling programs to benefit their faculty and staff. IUPUI provides access to Central Indiana Commuter Services where "ridematching software" pairs riders with others seeking the same destinations. Riders also can lease seven-, 12-, or 15-passenger vans to create what CICS calls a vanpool.
Purdue University's Clerical and Service Staff Advisory Committee had talks of a Web-based, rideshare program in Jan 2007, but the committee has "suspended efforts in lieu of a larger initiative by the university," CSSAC Chairman Gary Carter said.
Stigall said the increase in gas prices ignited her idea for a ride sharing program for the university's faculty and staff.
"It is costing me $50 at the current price of gas with my little 1993 Honda Accord, so I am not saving anything," she said.
After researching what other schools have come up with to relieve some stress among their faculties, Stigall said she was inspired by a Web site a fellow Indiana university faculty member created.
"I got on my daughter's school's [Web site], IUPUI, and they have a great ride sharing site, and it got me thinking," she said. "I listed an ad in the faculty bulletin board in February and again in May to no avail. I even drove around with a sign in my car window."
Although Stigall has yet to find anyone to ride along and ease the strain on her wallet, she said she has received many responses to her bulletin, which remains posted.
"I have about 20 e-mails from people in Marion, Indy, Fishers, Carmel and Richmond," she said.
Other Indiana universities have already made use of carpooling programs to benefit their faculty and staff. IUPUI provides access to Central Indiana Commuter Services where "ridematching software" pairs riders with others seeking the same destinations. Riders also can lease seven-, 12-, or 15-passenger vans to create what CICS calls a vanpool.
Purdue University's Clerical and Service Staff Advisory Committee had talks of a Web-based, rideshare program in Jan 2007, but the committee has "suspended efforts in lieu of a larger initiative by the university," CSSAC Chairman Gary Carter said.
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