May - Reduce carbon emissions by car sharing

Goodness, I'm late! It's nearly the end of the month already, so it's time to report on May's focus for Carbon Watchers.

This month it was entitled "Don't drive one in five" with the reminder that if everyone found another way to travel to work or school just one day a week, there would be 20% less traffic on the roads.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Unfortunately, there was little I could do for this challenge.

First, we don't do a school or work run. When we did a school run, it was impossible to get anyone to car share with us and it was very frustrating. Four families from our village drove to a school in the next village - we all HAD to drive, it was a main road and notorious for speeding lorries. All the parents wanted to take their own kids to school every day. Sometimes we would even be on the road in a convoy and it used to infuriate me!

Second, we try and give our neighbours a lift if we are going anywhere. We have a family across the road without a car and with lots of children, so we help out if we can. Our neighbour on the other side is an elderly lady who never learned to drive, so we take her to the shops too, if she wants us to.

Third, I am unable to use public transport, use a bike or walk far because I have anxiety attacks. Basically, having my car provides a 'quick getaway' if I feel threatened.

I have to accept that this is the way things are for us right now.

However, our yearly mileage is below average. We do between 6 and 7,000 miles per year. I think the average is 12,000.

I would like to walk or cycle more and it's something I'm building up to, but it's very difficult right now. So we do what we can - only go out when necessary, combine errands, take our neighbours with us, and have traded our thirsty 4x4 for a car which gives us between 45 and 60 miles to the gallon.

There are various car share schemes which links drivers and passengers to share regular or occasional journey. These are great for those who can take advantage of them and ideal in an office situation where everyone starts and ends their day at the same time.

In Gloucestershire, we have Car Share Gloucestershire Across the UK there are various schemes, such as Car Share , National car share and Lift Share.