Welcome To Wirral

The liftshare matching service puts people travelling in the same direction or a similar destination in contact with each other, allowing them to arrange to travel together and share the costs, whilst also reducing congestion and pollution on our roads.

What is car sharing?

Car-sharing is when there is more than one occupant in a private car. We all share cars regularly, with our friends and family, without thinking about it. But there are often times when a driver has empty seats in the car because they don't know of anyone who needs a lift. And that's where organised car-sharing, using the best of today's technology, comes in.

The liftshare matching service puts people travelling in the same direction or a similar destination in contact with each other, allowing them to arrange to travel together and share the costs, whilst also reducing congestion and pollution on our roads.

What are the benefits of sharing a car?

The UK has the worst congestion, longest commuting time, second highest road utilisation and highest car ownership in the EU. The UK's traffic situation has led to significant social, economic and environmental costs:

• Traffic jams cost the economy £5 billion every year in lost productivity
• There are 10 million empty seats on the road every day
• The average speed of traffic in London is 10 mph
• 29% of children travel to school by car
• 90% of London air pollution is caused by road traffic

 

Sharing a car:

• Reduces the costs of travelling by car
• Undercuts the cost of nearly all other forms of transport
• Reduces congestion and pollution
• Reduces parking problems
• Reduces the need for a private car
• Widens the recruitment catchment areas for businesses
• Provides a real solution to the lack of public transport in rural areas
• Facilitates the integration of public and private transport
• Is a way of meeting new, like-minded people.

 

If half of UK motorists received a lift one day a week, congestion and pollution would be reduced by 10% and traffic jams by 20%.

What are the costs of car sharing?

liftshare suggests that passengers pay the driver 10p per mile each. Alternatively drivers and passengers can split the cost of petrol. Please note that drivers should not make a profit from car-sharing as this can invalidate their insurance. As a basic figure we advise that drivers receive no more than 40p per mile from passengers, but if you have any concerns please contact your insurance company directly.

How can I get involved?

The service is available to anyone who travels in the UK - students, commuters, people on the school run, football supporters, festival goers, tourists, employees - anyone!

And joining the scheme is simple and completely FREE. All you have to do is register your details (for security reasons) and liftshare will send you your password via e-mail. Go to the Travel Wise web site to register.

If you would like to change your password to one you will remember more easily click on Personal.

Please keep a note of your password, as you will need it for future entry to the site. If, however, you happen to forget it you can click on Send me my password. Your password will be sent to your e-mail address immediately.

Once you've registered you journey and submitted the information we'll search the database for possible matches and give you the details of other people going your way.

You can contact any suitable travelling companions via their e-mail (this ensures members privacy) and arrange to meet them at a collection point that suits you both. Make sure you both bring ID so you both know you're meeting the right person.

 

When can I share a car?

Because of the organisation involved, car sharing is most appropriate for pre-planned or regular journeys, including:

• Getting to and from work
• Doing the weekly shop
• Getting the children to school
• Going to the match at the weekend
• Travelling to a festival, big event or show
• Getting to and from university or simply visiting friends

 

But you can also search for travelling companions for one-off journeys to anywhere in the country.

What are the chances of finding a perfect match to my requirements?

Thousands of people have had success in finding travelling companions using liftshare, and the software has been designed to identify all possible ways of getting you from a to b.

If, however, you're having difficulty in finding a match, we suggest that you look for a travelling companion for part of your journey, and do the rest on public transport.

And remember - the more members we have, the greater the chance of finding an exact match. So make sure you tell your friends about liftshare, and get them to register their journeys a.s.a.p.

Will my e-mail address be visible to other users?

No, your email address is kept hidden at all times. The only information that is visible to other users is your 'usually called' name, your smoking preference and the journey details you added.

What are the insurance implications of liftsharing?

The Association of British Insurers clearly states that car-sharing won't affect the insurance of their members so long as a profit isn't made:

"Giving Lifts - All ABI motor insurers have agreed that if your passengers contribute towards your running costs your insurance cover will not be affected, as long as lifts are given in a vehicle seating eight passengers or less. This agreement does not apply if you make a profit from payments received or if carrying passengers is your business." (Source: ABI web site, 2005)

The ABI represents around 400 companies, transacting 94% of the business of UK insurance companies.

Drivers with any concerns should check with their insurance company as terms and conditions may vary between insurance providers over time.

What happens if my liftshare fails?

liftshare is solely a travel information service provider and we cannot be held responsible for any journeys that don't work out as planned. Likewise the drivers and passengers who register their journeys with us are under no legal obligation to their travelling companions or to liftshare to make any journeys.

However we hope that if plans change and journeys can't be made, that all affected parties will be contacted and forewarned with appropriate notice. We also suggest that travelling companions arrange to meet at locations close to public transport networks, so that if plans fall through the passengers have the option of using an alternative form of transport to get to their destination on time.

How safe is car sharing?

The safety of our members is a priority for liftshare, and we have made our web-site as secure as we can. All members' details are stored securely in the database and only the members' intended travel information can be accessed on-line.

When it comes to travelling, every member is responsible for his or her own safety. However we do recommend that members' follow some simple security measures outlined below:

• Avoid exchanging home addresses with your travelling companion before you meet them.
• Arrange to meet in a public place.
• Inform a friend or family member of who you will be travelling with, when and to where.
• Make sure you show each other your ID's - passports, student cards or driving licences - so you know you're travelling with the right person.
• You are under no obligation to go ahead with any liftshare. If you have any doubts about your travelling companion, for any reason, you should avoid travelling with them.
• If you have any problems please call us immediately on 01953 451166 and we will endeavour help in any way that we can.

 

Is it possible to find travelling companions of the same sex? (Single sex travelling i.e. only females)

Yes, through our public groups you can join all male or female car sharing schemes.

Where should I arrange to meet my travelling companions?

We recommend that you meet your travelling companions at a public place, close to public transport networks if possible so that alternative transport options are available should the lift fall through. We advise members not to meet at a home address for security reasons.

How do I cancel my membership?

To cancel your membership, please click on the Personal Details page and select 'Please remove my details'. All your details will be removed from the database immediately.

For more information please either click on the website link below or click on the "Request Service" button.