Reading Ideas

I just had the greatest idea how to improve the quality of public transportation by cutting back costs at the same time.

Go to any bus stop during rush hour and count the people waiting for the bus.
Then count the number of cars passing by with free seats.

If there was a small terminal at the bus stop where people could enter where they want to go, and car drivers would have a similar terminal to enter their route (or select it from a personal list of often used routes), we could build a countrywide and very close-meshed network of para-public transportation for peanuts.

Kinda like a very dynamic ad-hoc car pooling service.

Potential passengers would just enter their destination and whether they're in a hurry, and a central computer could automatically compose a list of cars driving there and pick the most suitable one among those who accept the passenger. Passenger preferences (non-smoker, male/female driver only) could also be considered. The passenger then would get a ticket which identifies them to the driver and gives the driver credit for the transportation.
If some passengers can't get a ride, a regular (maybe smaller) bus tours the bus stops. That way even the bus drivers would keep their jobs.
The system could even be extended, so that people with regular worktimes and idle taxis could pick up people at railway stations during fixed times.

• The passenger gets where they want, especially during rush hour probably faster and more comfortable.

• The car driver gets some compensation for a route they'd drive anyway.

• There wouldn't be so many nearly empty buses driving around guzzling 40 litres of diesel per 100km.

• Waiting times would on average be equal or even better.

• It's a good opportunity to get to know new people.

Then I realised why it won't work.

• Most car drivers won't be willing to transport complete strangers for just a few bucks, even if it's less than a minute of extra work.

• Most bus passengers won't be happy to be transported by complete strangers in their cars (which is possibly filled with even more strangers).

• Most people don't want to get to know new people.

And last but not least,

• Most people don't like new ideas, even if they'd profit from them.

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

You sound a little bit frustrated, don't you?

Your idea isn't completely new. Several years ago Liechtenstein was in search of some nice transportation ideas and one of them was this one. At one of our biggest firms, the Hilti AG, there's a terminal like this where you can type in and so. But don't ask me how it works.

Well, if the system was safe, and I mean like, everyone participating has got its special ID card, e.g., and has to get it into the machine at the car before driving and so on, you'd always knew (or, the firm organising it knows) whom you're driving with and vice versa.
Today, most people need money (remember gas prices) so I think many people would want that. Why not developing a system like that and sell it? In a big city I assume it will work. First of course, you'd have to make a survey. I'm sure today's people will find the system great. And I mean, you're not obliged to talk to these people...

"Sie wollen nichts anderes. Sie wollen kämpfen! Sie sind Soldaten! Fucking Wahnsinnige!" - Noel G.

You would need to have some way to know that the guy picking you up isn't Chainsaw Jim. I wouldn't drive with total strangers, idealism or not. Actually the problem wouldn't be certifying drivers, you could do that with deposits or recommendations. But passenger certification? This thing would never lift off if you required that.

'Yeah, That's what Jesus would do. Jesus would bomb Afghanistan. Yeah.' - snowlion

I've thought about it, too. There are some ways to make sure both passenger and driver are fine after a while, e.g. automated phone calls, a car alert or (cheaper yet less effective) an "I'm getting off the car" function in the passenger's chip card and the car's computer.

Of course that wouldn't stop Chainsaw Jim from slicing you to pieces before some alarm goes off. On the other hand, chainsaws are much easier (and more fun) to handle in a nearly empty bus, so I think the actual risk increase would be minimal...

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

I've thought about it, too. There are some ways to make sure both passenger and driver are fine after a while, e.g. automated phone calls, a car alert or (cheaper yet less effective) an "I'm getting off the car" function in the passenger's chip card and the car's computer.

I'm sceptical. There would be so many false alarms caused by unreliable equipment or people simply forgetting to "check back" that no one would take these warnings seriously anymore.

I'm more thinking in the direction of being able to reliably identify the driver after an incident.

'Yeah, That's what Jesus would do. Jesus would bomb Afghanistan. Yeah.' - snowlion