McInnes encourages lift sharing to beat fuel costs

9.39.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jun 2008

Liberal Democrat Transport and Climate Change spokesperson and Aberdeenshire MSP Alison McInnes today encouraged North East residents to beat high fuel costs by sharing lifts.

Speaking ahead of National Lift Share Day, 9 June, Mrs McInnes said: "Car sharing can dramatically reduce an individual's transport costs and structured schemes such as Carshare Aberdeenshire maximise the benefit to commuters. In some rural areas public transport remains irregular, but car sharing can actually make travel by road one of the cheapest ways of getting in to work."

Aberdeenshire Council has re-launched www.carshareaberdeenshire.com after initial take-up was disappointing. However those who have chosen to car share have been full of praise for the arrangement.

Mrs McInnes added: "If we can develop a culture of car sharing the benefits will be great. Not only will emissions be reduced and individual's save money on fuel, but people who currently have no way of getting around will have greater access to jobs. Car sharing may actually help tackle rural exclusion.

"I hope local residents will give car sharing a go on 9 June."