Co-voiturage (Car sharing)

[NormanH]

I am probably one of the rare members of the Forum not to have a car, but this might be useful to anyone who has need of it for visitors or family etc.

Having recently acquired a flat in another départment I obviously need to move between them regularly.

I have been using BleBla Car for this and so far have been delighted. The drivers have been reliable the costs low (7€ for a trip of 140k) and often I have been delivered to the door or very close. It is also a nice way to meet and chat to new people.

If there is any interest I can  tell more about it.

[idun]

Aren't the taxi drivers complaining about this? Think it is taking business away from them.

I have no idea how this system worked in the 1970's, maybe notice boards, no idea...... but it did exist in France then, as that is how my friend met her future husband.

My son has used co voiturage in the past and has been very happy with it.

NH, only 7€ for 140kms, is that usual?

[Gardengirl]

That sounds a really good idea Norman and costs so little !

[NormanH]

I think that the texi drivers are complaining about a sort of unlicensed mini-cabs mainly in the major cities.

This is  someone giving a lift in an organised and reasonably safe fashion, admitting that all sorts of things could go wrong.

As an example Pierre is taking his car from Montpellier to Bordeaux which is quite a long lonely and expensive trip especially if he goes by the autoroute with the tolls to pay as well as fuel.

NormanH wants to go from Béziers to Toulouse that day, and EmilyG  wants to go from Carcassonne to Pau.

Pierre is a subscriber to the site and has a profile with his photo and car details on it, as have the possible passengers.

The site also holds bank details for Pierre and credit card details for Norman and Emily

Pierre advertises his trip online and the site breaks it up into sections with detailed timings

The other two see that his details suit their needs and sign up, paying online and having the chance to ask him specific details such as if he can drop them at a particular spot.

Pierre answers and accepts their bookings but isn't paid at that stage.

When he accepts the site sends an SMS and email confirmation  to the pâssenger with a code to be given gives him when they arrive at their destination..

With that he can claim payment.

Both driver and passengers can make comments on the other person afterwards  which are visible on the profile for later occasions..

[idun]

Yes, the taxi drivers are complaining about unlicensed vehicules but a few nights ago a few disgruntled taxi drivers were interviewed and mentioned co-voiturage as well. I had no idea what it had to do with their dispute really, as this is and has been a very sensible solution to car use.

[Gardengirl]

I looked at the website Norman, wondered about registering as we're thinking of a trip in March. It sounds very well organised and safe as well as a bargain for both drivers and passengers. It's good to hear it's worked out so well for you.

[Lehaut]

Our son used it from Brest to Nantes during an SNCF strike. Very little cost and chatting to the driver, got a fascinating insight into the way some of the big buisinesses operate in France. Was not too keen on the driver texting whilst at the wheel, nor the disconcerting habit he had of looking at our son whilst talking to him and not at the road! Otherwise fine.

[Chancer]

That is a common French trait made all the worse by their tailgating.

In the past with our diving club after requesting several times that the driver stopped surfing on his smartphone I got out at a péage and refused to get back in unless he stopped or someone else drove his car, made me very unpopular with everyone.

Some years before as a front seat passenger with a group from AVF the driver was not only turning to look at me when he spoke but also right round to the back seat passengers, again he thought I was being completely unreasonable, eventually in the 3rd lane of the autoroute he drifted into the crash barrier, I Grabbed the Wheel but he had already sideswiped the barrier.

The passengers were in shock and the dickheed blamed me saying that I had swerved the car into the barrier [:'(]

I am not a nervous passenger, I was a race driver and have sat beside people far more competent than my humble self in complete confidence despite my eyes telling me that we could not possibly get through certain bends with the speed they were carrying, I do get nervous though with incompetent and distracted drivers whatever the speed, there is no safe speed for such people, another group are the nervy people whose control movements are always jerky and exaggerated, they are easy to spot because they cannot maintain a constant cruising speed, they are always on and off the throttle but mashing it in their manner, the more powerfull the car the more uncomfortable the ride with such a person, they seem to have no cneural onnection with the machine and the road surface.

They are not as dangerous as the distracted tailgaters but become lethal in slippery conditions especially snow and ice, you will usually find these people have hed several winter accidents, have damaged wheelrims and in France are the ones that change to winter tyres every year despite not living or visiting alpine régions.

[nomoss]

I did quite a lot of hitch hiking when a student and later in the Services, but had quite a few nasty experiences, the worst being passenger in a lorry which rolled onto its side and crashed through a sevice station, knocking down two pumps and spilling petrol all around.

I would be very reluctant to ride a long distance with any driver whose abilties I didn't know. I accepted a lift to the nearest train station when our boat broke down in a remote place on the canals here. The driver and his wife didn't stop playing with the huge screen of his GPS, while they argued about it, and there was no seatbelt for me, as he had removed the back seats to accommodate his dog. Luckily it was only short way, but I was very relieved to get out.

[NormanH]

I have had similar experiences with the drivers of the taxi-ambulances that take you to Hospital, but on feature of the site that I appreciate is the section where passengers can comment on the driver and raise such points.

On amusing story told me by the last driver was of two young men who signed up for a long trip with whet turned out to be a very elderly lady who said on stopping the car"Ok you are going to do the driving"   [:-))]