Car-pooling is about to be boosted by a new smartphone application around the country, and a trial discount parking scheme in Auckland.
The app has been produced for android phones by a Wellington couple who also hope to extend it to iPhones in coming weeks.
Auckland Transport coincidentally began a trial scheme yesterday at its Downtown parking building in which it is offering car-poolers a 10 per cent discount off its regular monthly fee of $410 for reserved spaces.
The council body has made 15 spaces available for the trial, which is in addition to reserved free parking it has been offering for some time to car-poolers at its Albany bus station, and Birkenhead and Half Moon Bay ferry terminals.
Rides Ltd director Fernanda Borba Nunes, who launched the car-pooling app with her husband Marcelo Duque Cesar last weekend, says 20 or so people have signed up to it so far but believes it will take some time to build enough critical mass to match drivers with passengers.
