Not everyone is complaining about the record high gasoline prices. Carpool and Ride Share programs are seeing a surge in interest in cities including Davenport, Des Moines, Ames and Cedar Rapids. Michelle Ribble coordinates a van pooling program at the University of Iowa.With gas prices creeping toward a dollar-70 a gallon, Ribble says more people are signing up for the service and new vans are being added to the fleet.Ribble’s van pooling program is serving more than 700 U-of-I employees who live roughly 60-miles or less from Iowa City and don’t want to commute. Riders pay anywhere from 20 to 70-dollars a month, based on how far away they live. Ribble says it’s a win-win situation as riders don’t have to worry about gas prices and they’re helping reduce pollution.Ribble says they’re now carrying riders from as far away as Davenport, Washington, Williamsburg and Cedar Rapids. The service is only for U-of-I employees. A similar program is offered at Iowa State University.
