By Anna Speaker
Madison Magazine
Special To Channel 3000

Tired of the perpetually increasing parking and gas prices? What about that nagging voice in the back of your head telling you that your car produces just as many pounds of emissions as that rusty pickup truck driving past you on the highway?

Stop fighting your conscience and start believing your calculator. Green transportation makes sense, and Madison has enough options for you to get moving without emptying your pockets and increases your green quotient.

Ride Share

What is it? Servicing the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin and the far northern counties of Illinois, Rideshare, Etc. Online is a mass organized carpool. You can either match up with another person online and carpool in your own car, or you can take a van that has scheduled routes throughout the area.

Why it's green: By carpooling, you may drive farther to pick up a passenger, but you will save on gas money and only one car will be on the road instead of two. That equals less traffic congestion and fewer emissions.

How Much? How much you pay is decided by the participants in the vehicle.

Find it: rideshareetc.org

Community Car

What is it? It's ridesharing taken to the next level. Don't just share the ride--share the entire car. At Community Car, you can pick up one of seventeen vehicles (Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Mini Cooper convertible, Ford Ranger, or a Toyota Sienna) at one of the downtown Madison parking spots. All you have to do is call ahead or go online and reserve the car.

Sharing is caring: Just as if you were sharing a vehicle with family members or friends, you are expected to respect the other people driving the Community Car. That means no smoking or pets allowed (with the exception of the Ford Ranger) and of course, no leaving fast-food wrappers! You are expected to leave the tank at least a quarter full with gas when you return the car. Community Car stocks each vehicle with a gas card located in the glove compartment.

Why it's green: Without a car right at your fingertips, you'll find yourself streamlining and consolidating your errand trips. What makes it even sweeter? All of the cars have good gas mileage and fifty-three percent are hybrid gas-electric cars that average forty-five miles per gallon.

How Much? Community Car offers different plans to better suit your habits: prepaid plans and monthly or yearly plans. Receive one hundred free miles for each reservation and pay forty-eight cents for each extra mile. You don't pay for gas, insurance or carwashes. There is a one-time application fee of $50.

Find it: communitycar.com

To continue reading, visit MadisonMagazine.com.