9 - Car sharing

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'Car sharing' or 'car pooling' have become increasingly popular especially with the launch of new sites like www.whipcar.com and www.liftshare.com/uk. If your idea of a holiday is going on a road trip, or you need to get somewhere and cannot afford to fork out for train tickets, then these are great options.

Many worry about the safety aspect with regards to car sharing, comparing it to hitch-hiking, and like with any type of transport, there are always risks attached, but in general the shares go smoothly. The main advantage of car-sharing is the low cost of travel, petrol and the saving on CO2 emissions. Through sites like Liftshare, it is easy to search for someone going the same way as you and to contact them.

Whipcar is a little different and a recent concept that has emerged during recession-struck Britain. It does exactly what it says on the tin: allows you to rent someone else's car. The site guides you through a search for someone in your geographical location who doesn't need their car for a few days, weeks, or even months and allows you to rent it, which is a lot cheaper than going for a conventional car rental deal, whether you are just moving homes or going on a road trip with friends. All cars are insured and rates start at about £30 a day, depending on the model of the car and dates. It also spares you the cost of the upkeep of a car on a permanent basis.

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