While we at Goose Networks strive to leverage every-day technologies to make carpooling easier, for years commuters in Washington DC have been practicing their own low-tech version of ridesharing.

Known as 'slugging,' this practice is casual carpooling in its most basic form.  As cars pull to the curb, a driver will announce her destination at to the person at the head of the line -- the caller in slug parlance -- who then relays that information to the slugs behind

The drivers need an extra body or two to get into the high-occupancy lanes. So they pick up the slugs, who get a free ride into the city and a faster commute themselves. The system isn't overseen by any government -- it has simply evolved organically over the years.  And the system works great!

Read, listen, or watch National Public Radio's coverage to learn more about DC slug lines.