Despite the fact that cars are extremely expensive, no self-respecting family here is without one or two cars - one of which is preferably a four wheel drive of some description capable of taking skis, tents, canoes and other Norwegian necessities! People here own cars because the public transport system is not that brilliant. There is just one commuter railway line to Indre Arne (theother to Dale, Voss and Oslo, doesn't really count as trains are not that frequent). To make up for the lack of railway, there are loads of bus routes, but they tend to follow main roads, and the weather here can be challenging- it's no fun getting to work either frozen to the bone or looking like a drowmed rat because the bus was late! So people drive everywhere, which means most of the cars on the road in the rush hour only have one person in them (or possibly two if it is that parents' turn to pick up or drop off the sprog at kindergarden).
It will be interesting to see whether the app does lead to more car sharing. Personally, I think it will take more than an app to change a person's driving habits. Who really wants to share their car with a complete stranger. What if they don't like your choice of radio station, or are late getting up and bring their breakfast with them to consume in your front seat, leaving crumbs everywhere! What if, at the end of the day the meeting takes longer than expected and you are late picking them up, which means they are late for something else.
Passemgers too may have a problem with the ride they get and may not appreciate being picked up in a car that smells of wet dog or cigarette smoke!
I don't think Trevor is going to sign up for it! As for me, working at the school in Sletten is an easy 10 minute bus ride from the top of our steps up to Kalvedalsveien - I'm doing my bit to fight pollution anyway!
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