Well, a ride-sharing business set up in 2009 in Paris is now Europe-wide, and BlaBlaCar.com members transported 3m people last year. This year the company expects to facilitate the transport of 10m people.
The operation runs a website where members can post details of trips they are offering, and what the charge will be (in the UK, as I write, Manchester to Carlisle is going for £10, for instance).
BlaBlaCar authenticates the identities of all members, and since the money paid isn't a case of plying for hire or reward, but just a contribution towards running costs, it doesn't affect the motorist's insurance.
As the rider contacts the car owner direct online, there's an element of choice or travelling companions.
The initiative was started by a French student studying in Stanford USA one Christmas, and when he couldn't get a train or bus home in France he posted a request online and got an offer from a motorist going his way.
The system is in 10 countries and has offered more than 24 million seats in the last four and a half years.
The company estimates over £100m has been saved by members sharing cars since it set up, and some 500,000 tonnes of CO2 hasn't been pumped into the atmosphere.
