Gas prices drive move Missouri commuters to carpools

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A group that arranges carpools in the St. Louis area says interest is up sharply because of high fuel prices.

In the past year, Ridefinders has seen a 33 percent jump in the number of people seeking to share vehicles.

Director Joe Wright said before the dramatic rise in gas prices, most people who carpooled had fairly long commutes.

But he said now, people who live closer to work are inquiring about the program.

Wright said commuters in the Metro East expressed the most interest early on because gas prices are higher in Illinois than in Missouri.

He said most carpools include only two people, but Ridefinders has vans available to lease for larger groups.

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Information from: KWMU-FM, http://www.kwmu.org