Title:
Transportation Web site (e.g.; maybe a possible name for it can be www.bidaride.com)
Idea:
An alternative method of transportation for America/Think Ebay meets Craigslist where people can pay for/schedule rides in advance with APPROVED transportation companies that are selected as the sole contractors for this.
Origination:
On Christmas day of 2006, I had an unexpected gran mal seizure. I was told to see a neurologist for testing. When I went to my neurologist, he told me NO driving for 6 months. (It's an automatic protocol the doctors follow here in Colorado, to lessen possibility of a second occurrence of having a seizure while driving) Well...needless to say this was hard to hear, especially at 35-years-old being of what formerly was known to me as having a sound mind and body!!
Here's where the "go green" proposal came to thought. Because I was told I couldn't drive, I immediately sold my car, so I wouldn't have the "temptation". And I also, gave myself a pat on the back, because I was giving up the one thing that makes most Americans independently mobile. (at least according to current social standards) I realized my way of thinking had to change immediately, and I began with listing my benefits of this situation: save gas, save time, save money, no more insurance payments, and a few extra bucks of income from the sale of my car...so I was off to a good start.
To my great fortune, I made my living from home working as a contracted PR person for a Web site, so I didn't have to worry about getting to work daily. BUT...I still had to get to places like the bank, the grocery store, Dr. appt's etc.
The area I live in is very rural and we have limited public transportation, so it makes getting from point-to-point a little more challenging. So I resorted to calling an occasional taxi, walking over 2 miles to the nearest bus stop and using SpecialTransit when they have openings available in their schedule. Still, I needed more options that were: cheaper, more available when needed, and reliable.
My thoughts on this were; Why can't we create a Web site similar to Priceline.com, where people can log-on and bid? If we can do it for air transportation, hotels, etc…We should be able to do it for local ground transportation also. Of course the details would need to be thought out on things such as: locations, bonded/insured drivers and transportation companies that were contracted, carpools, limos, taxis, shuttles, etc.
That is the first aspect of the idea. BUT, additional services such as corporate companies, who are forward-thinking, can offer a paid ride through this Web site for their employees to get to/from work. (as part of the benefits package) So not only do individuals have access to this site when they want to: go to a bar (think small college towns here), go to the bank, go shopping, etc. But large corporations have access to this as well. This way, the "go green" initiative can be developed on two levels: small and big.
In reading some of the posts, it seems that the #1 consensus is a need for transportation in America...Trains are a great idea, but I'd like to see something that is Web accessible as well, so anyone can get a ride...anytime/anywhere.
Too idealistic? Perhaps. Many "crinks" to be thought out as this is a very "rough draft" proposal. I have additional developments as far as execution goes, but I wanted to list the general idea for this contest.
Thanks for creating this contest for us to submit proposals Gather!!! :)
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Comments: 2
This is a very innivative idea. I hope you can work out more details.
Thank you for commenting on my article "Going Green in Hannibal." As an academic person myself (Ph.D. from University of Chicago years ago) I am always interested in well designed research. If you have more specific details in mind, I would like to hear them.
Best of luck to you!