How a shared commute cuts your carbon footprint and the traffic around you

The carbon footprint of a shared commute is smaller than that of a solo one for a simple reason: the same fuel moves more people. When an organisation moves its staff together, it lowers emissions and eases traffic at the same time.

Why occupancy matters more than the engine

A vehicle's emissions are divided among the people it carries. A car with one person in it assigns the whole journey to that person. A vehicle with every seat taken divides the journey many times over.

That is why occupancy is the figure to watch. As Our World in Data sets out, the footprint of a journey per passenger depends heavily on how many people share the vehicle.

Fewer vehicles, less congestion

Each full shared vehicle stands in for the cars and motorbikes its passengers would otherwise have used. Fewer vehicles mean:

• Less congestion at peak hours
• Less fuel burned while standing in traffic
• Less pressure on parking at offices and campuses
• Cleaner air on the routes people travel every day

Good routing removes wasted kilometres

A shared vehicle helps only if it is well used. Emissions fall when:

1. Routes are planned so that vehicles run full.
2. Pick-up points are placed to avoid long detours.
3. Empty running between routes is kept to a minimum.
4. Timings avoid the worst of the traffic where shifts allow.

This is what the technology behind our service is for: measuring occupancy and routing, then improving both.

What organisations can do

Offer a shared commute

Give employees or students a practical alternative to driving alone.

Fill the seats

Encourage people to use the service. A full vehicle is cheaper and cleaner per person.

Count it

Include the commute when you report on sustainability. It is often one of the larger parts of an organisation's indirect footprint.

The commute is a good place to start

Many sustainability measures need capital or new equipment. Changing how people travel to work needs neither. It is a decision, and it takes effect on the first day the route runs.

Read more about our approach on the sustainability page, or talk to us about your commute.