From Sustainable Industries, October 2nd, 2007

Thumbing a Ride
Think of it as online dating for the traffic-impaired. With a new twist on car-sharing, for-profit companies are paying people to share the fast lane.

Founded by 24-year-old former Microsoft engineer Nick Shiftan, Goose Networks sends text messages to drivers in the Seattle area who share the same route to work. Then, the company rewards those who choose to carpool with cash.

After proving the system encouraged one out of 20 Microsoft employees to carpool, Goose Networks earned a two-year contract with the Washington State Department of Transportation aimed at eliminating 322 single occupancy vehicles from state freeways daily. “When most states are spending money on asphalt and building new bridges, Washington state is spending money on text messaging and social networks,” Shiftan says. “It’s pretty innovative on their part.”