Last year, we asked you to consider a different New Year’s resolution for 2011 and try an alternative commute by sharing the ride. More than 2,700 people took that challenge and registered for North Carolina’s free commuter-matching program, SharetheRideNC, bringing the number of commuters registered in the system to 31,326.
SharetheRideNC is a free, statewide, commuter-matching program for drivers interested in joining or starting a carpool or vanpool. Drivers who register online at www.ShareTheRideNC.org input their commute information and instantly receive a list of other drivers who have matching commutes.
As more people move to North Carolina, congestion is a reality in both urban and rural areas. Carpooling and vanpooling are two of several alternatives commuters have to driving their personal cars in addition to rail and public transportation. By joining a carpool or vanpool, commuters can save money and reduce stress as well as remove vehicles from the road. That, in turn, reduces congestion, harmful emissions and the need for more road maintenance.
In addition to finding carpool and vanpool matches, users can also sign up for the Emergency Ride Home program that provides commuters who carpool, vanpool, bike, walk or take transit with a reliable ride home in the event of an emergency.
NCDOT initially provided funding to develop www.ShareTheRideNC.org in 2005 and continues to support the program. The database is administered by Triangle Transit, the provider of regional bus and ridesharing services in the Triangle region.
Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office, NCDOT’s Public Transportation Division has awarded more than $310 million in grant funds to local public transportation systems. These grants enable systems to provide people in all 100 counties access to education, job opportunities and health care.
For more information on grant programs through the Public Transportation Division of NCDOT, as well as transit systems that serve the public throughout the state, visit www.ncdot.gov/nctransit.
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Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Cold weather puts strain on auto batteries
With below-freezing temperatures soon upon us—at least in the early mornings—batteries will need to be in good operating condition to start vehicle engines.
“When the temperature is below freezing, it only generates 60 percent of its current charge,” said Dusty Holcomb, AAA Carolinas vice-president of Automotive Services. “We always see a spike in requests for emergency road service when the temperature drops significantly.”
One-third of calls for service on one morning in early January involved dead batteries, said Judson E. Paterson, field support manager who oversees the motor club’s battery operations.
Some cold weather tips:
• Get your battery charge checked in the daytime before overnight temperatures fall and every time you have the vehicle serviced or oil changed.
• Keep the car in a garage overnight, if available.
• Turn off all accessories at night before turning the ignition switch off.
• Make sure battery case and brackets are free of corrosion.
• Check the tension and condition of your fan belt. If it is loose, it can affect the battery’s ability to recharge.
• Watch and listen for battery-drain warning signs. If headlights dim when idling but brighten when you rev the engine, it could signal an electrical system problem. If you hear a grinding or clicking when you turn the ignition to the crank position, your battery may be weak
• If your battery does not initially turn the engine over on the first try in the morning, turn the ignition key on and wait one minute before cranking the engine again. This gives the battery chemicals time to jell and energize the battery terminals.
“Batteries may not always give warning signs before they fail,” Patterson said. “The average lifespan of a battery is 3 to 5 years, with batteries in hotter climates lasting closer to three years, but, when it comes to batteries, one size does not fit all.
"Talk to your technician about the specific driving conditions of your vehicle (hilly, level, sandy, etc.), the climate you drive in, so that your battery will have adequate capacity for your needs."
“When the temperature is below freezing, it only generates 60 percent of its current charge,” said Dusty Holcomb, AAA Carolinas vice-president of Automotive Services. “We always see a spike in requests for emergency road service when the temperature drops significantly.”
One-third of calls for service on one morning in early January involved dead batteries, said Judson E. Paterson, field support manager who oversees the motor club’s battery operations.
Some cold weather tips:
• Get your battery charge checked in the daytime before overnight temperatures fall and every time you have the vehicle serviced or oil changed.
• Keep the car in a garage overnight, if available.
• Turn off all accessories at night before turning the ignition switch off.
• Make sure battery case and brackets are free of corrosion.
• Check the tension and condition of your fan belt. If it is loose, it can affect the battery’s ability to recharge.
• Watch and listen for battery-drain warning signs. If headlights dim when idling but brighten when you rev the engine, it could signal an electrical system problem. If you hear a grinding or clicking when you turn the ignition to the crank position, your battery may be weak
• If your battery does not initially turn the engine over on the first try in the morning, turn the ignition key on and wait one minute before cranking the engine again. This gives the battery chemicals time to jell and energize the battery terminals.
“Batteries may not always give warning signs before they fail,” Patterson said. “The average lifespan of a battery is 3 to 5 years, with batteries in hotter climates lasting closer to three years, but, when it comes to batteries, one size does not fit all.
"Talk to your technician about the specific driving conditions of your vehicle (hilly, level, sandy, etc.), the climate you drive in, so that your battery will have adequate capacity for your needs."
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