For many years, local internet provider Boreal Access has served as an informal ride share resource. People looking for a ride to Duluth or to the Twin Cities, or someone wanting a package delivered to Grand Marais from Hovland or the Gunflint Trail, have sent an e-mail message seeking a ride or transport. The Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) transportation group hopes to make the ride share process even easier.
CCLEP has received a $10,000 grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and $4,000 of that money is earmarked for the transportation group. Rick Schubert, a transportation group member, said a preliminary meeting to discuss a ride share program was held December 2, which went well, although he added, “At this point we have more questions than answers.”
Schubert said the goal is to establish a website that is very user-friendly and which will encourage people to visit to post their scheduled trips to Duluth or beyond—or even just from one end of the county to the other. The website will be linked to Boreal Access, since that is a website that many people already visit.
However, the group hopes to have more than a site for people to offer or look for rides. Schubert said they are working on safety issues, to ensure that riders are safe.
He also said the group was considering offering some sort of incentive for providing rides. “It would be great if we could offer some kind of coupon if you offer a ride.”
Schubert said the group is open to ideas and encourages anyone interested in a ride share program or other energy-saving transportation issues to come to a meeting. The next transportation group meeting will be January14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cook County Community Center. For more information, call Schubert at (218) 475-2778.
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