Just two weeks ago, Diarmuid C was trying out his newly downloaded Avego app and added a trip from Dublin to Cork (Ireland). Just moments later, he received a message from our very own Sean O’Sullivan who was looking to get to Cork the same evening! Amazingly, Sean was actually spoiled for choice because he found someone else who was also looking to rideshare on the same route. This is a perfect example of how much easier it is for people to find you if you set up a schedule. Because Diarmuid did just that, he had good company for the long drive and it cost him a lot less. We caught up with him to ask about his first Avego rideshare:
How did you find the process overall?
“I found it very easy. I think Avego used a push notification to show where I was and then the person who requested the ride was able to contact me to arrange a meeting place. It didn’t feel strange at all: rather it felt exciting, as being an early adopter I was keen to test the application. I’m happy to say that it did exactly what it said on the tin. I met the other Avego user and we shared the trip back to Cork. In particular, as we drove out of Dublin I noticed all the single occupancy cars heading south and realised that this is such a positive contribution to environmental friendliness and also social responsibility. The journey went much faster as I had someone to talk to and of course the intutitive nature of the software meant that I wasnt going out of my way at all: I was merely sharing an empty seat with someone else who was also tech savvy and didn’t want to drive three or four empty seats up and down to Dublin. It certainly made me think, and realise that this is a practical step that people can take to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Did you know you can create your own groups and invite your friends to join them?
“No.”
Will you be using Avego in the future?
“Absolutely.”
Do you think Dublin commuters could benefit from using Avego?
“Of course. The amount of empty seats and single occupancy cars being driven to and from ghost estates every morning and afternoon must be huge. Imagine if everyone pooled their cars and shared their whereabouts with the Avego app. The amount of social interaction with people we only acknowledge on our way in and out of our negative equity homes in our depreciating cars would have a major beneficial impact on community and social life in these commuter belt dormitory towns.”