CAR-POOLERS REWARDED WITH FREE GAS RIDESHARE PICKS UP TABS.Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer BURBANK - Several hundred car-poolers throughout Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. got a big surprise Thursday morning when they pulled into five local gas stations - their fill-up was free. During a Rideshare Week promotion from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., representatives of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Rideshare, a public commuter assistance agency, approached drivers randomly and handed them prepaid cards to get gas. After they filled their tanks, some got another surprise when they received prepaid cards for $25 to use in the future. The rewards were intended to recognize car-poolers for reducing congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. and pollution. Jennifer and Billy Casper
William Earl "Billy" Casper (born June 24, 1931) is an American golfer who was one of the most prolific tournament winners on the PGA Tour from the mid 1950s to the , a Burbank couple who teach at John Muir Middle School A middle school part of the Huron Valley School District located in Milford, MI. It is located in Milford, MI in Oakland County, MI. It is directly across the street from Baker Elementary. Muir Middle School serves grades 6 through 8. The mascot is the Hawkeye. , were among the lucky commuters who got both a free tank of gas worth $19.43 and a prepaid card. ``We drive to work every day together. We just sold one of our cars so we are down to one,'' Jennifer Casper said at the Mobile station at Verdugo Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard. Mary Mkrtchyan, who gives her mother, Lisa, a ride every day to Glendale on the way to work, couldn't believe someone was picking up her $20 tab. ``I was very shocked when I saw them coming to me and giving the free stuff,'' she said, as she waited for her tank to fill up at the same gas station. In addition to the Burbank Mobile station, Arco, Chevron, Shell and Unocal gas stations in Arcadia, El Segundo, west Los Angeles
Many car-poolers flocked to the designated gas stations after learning from early morning news shows about the free gas. The rush created jams at the gas stations. Some commuters, disappointed they were not selected, turned away without getting gas. According to Rideshare, the average commuter who drives a vehicle that gets 25 miles per gallon Noun 1. miles per gallon - the distance traveled in a vehicle powered by one gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel unit, unit of measurement - any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange; "the dollar is the United States unit of can save $1,689 per year by car-pooling regularly with just one other person. Commuters interested in calculating how much they pay to commute and how much they can save by sharing a ride can visit www.socalcommute.org. Census data recently released showed that car-pooling in California has remained steady at about 14 percent in the last decade compared to the national carpool car·pool n. also car pool 1. An arrangement whereby several participants or their children travel together in one vehicle, the participants sharing the costs and often taking turns as the driver. 2. rate of 11 percent. Rideshare spokeswoman Jill Smolinski said the total giveaways would probably add up to a few thousand dollars. The promotion, she said, is being paid by Rideshare sponsors. ``We want to catch people car-pooling. We want to say thanks,'' Smolinski said. ``For people who are car-pooling, they are making a big difference. For every person who car-pools, there is one less car on the road.'' |
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