No question about it: Traffic will be challenging during Super Bowl week in Indianapolis.
While the estimated 100,000 visitors are there for football and entertainment, local residents still have to get to work, and they'll have to deal with a lot of extra cars on the road to get there.
One solution to easing the pain would be sharing a ride to work. The challenge, though, is finding other workers interested in carpooling.
Central Indiana Commuter Services can help. The service offers a free, online service to help match potential carpoolers. When they register online at www.327ride.net, motorists will find a list of people who live near them and also work near their office.
Already more than 8,000 people have registered in nine central Indiana counties including Boone (211), Hendricks (546), Morgan (203), Hamilton (1,474), Marion (5,168), Johnson (458), Madison (415), Hancock (283), and Shelby (91).
Once someone registers, they'll receive a list of others who are also looking to share rides.
"Because of the added congestion of Super Bowl traffic, this is the perfect time to start a carpool," said Ehren Bingaman, executive director of Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, which manages Central Indiana Commuter Services. "And finding someone to share rides with is free and easy."
One of the benefits of letting Central Indiana Commuter Services help establish a carpool is that some people may also be eligible for the Emergency Ride Home service, which will provide a free taxi ride in case of an emergency or unexpected overtime (though not in the case of Super Bowl-related or other traffic).
For more information about carpooling, vanpooling, and other alternative transportation options, visit the website at www.327ride.net.