The average American commutes to work 16 miles each way, and the average car gets under 23 mpg, which equates to about 7 gallons of gas per week to commute. At today's prices — $3.68 per gallon on average, as of this writing — that's about $25.75 a week, or nearly $1,300 a year!
Share your ride and the gas bill with just one friend, then, and you each save $650 a year. Fill the car, and you each save nearly $1,000.
And remember, the average car costs $9,000 to own, if you factor in gas, registration and insurance, maintenance and depreciation and other costs; if you halve or quarter the number of miles you drive, you'll also save on maintenance, and your car will last longer.
If you're looking for help getting started, consult with Divide the Ride, eRideShare, CarPool World or other Web-based tools designed to help like-minded commuters find each other.
