From metro(spokane), December 12th, 2006

Over on the westside o’ the state, namely King County, auto congestion can be a bear of a problem, fortunately problems often result in innovation.  The problem is caused primarily by the single-occupancy-vehicle (SOV).  Anti-transits loathe any bus/train that isn’t filled to the brim with riders, and is often the primary argument against funding more transit versus road expansion.  The same capacity issue, however, is present with SOVs-one driver + four seats = wasted capacity.  Enter GOOSE Networks.

Goose Networks marries the increasing popularity of mobile text-messaging to match up riders with drivers who have excess capacity and want to share a trip-in ‘real time’.  Send a text message, enter the GOOSE user pool, and rider and driver are matched.  Drivers using GOOSE for a trip are automatically reimbursed for 50% of the trip’s gas cost.  With fuel prices inching up, it makes for a pretty good incentive to rideshare.