Amidst these testing times, photos and stories of private vehicles, school buses and army vans giving lifts to people surfaced on social media, garnering much appreciation from everyone. Encouraged by this kind gesture, many started offering rides to people in their circles on social media, too. But what was needed was a common platform where more people could connect, and ask for or offer rides.Seizing the opportunity, many creative ideas surfaced the internet. Such as Carpool Kathmandu – a Facebook group where one can ask or offer rides. Sajilo Ride and seatkhalicha.com are other similar ideas that serve similar purpose. The responses to these innovations have been overwhelming, further proving how altruistic our communities are.
Sumana Shrestha, initiator of Carpool Kathmandu, shares, "On September 27, I was at Durbar Marg looking for a taxi and I could find none. The microbuses were stuffed while private vehicles with enough spare seats just passed by. I ended up walking that day, but it wouldn't be a permanent solution to the crisis. I firmly believe that if we come together as a community, we can solve great problems. Hence Carpool Kathmandu was born. It's completely community owned."
Just by skimming through Carpool Kathmandu's Facebook group, which has over 41,000 members in just five days (and growing every minute), one can know what a great response the idea is receiving and how privileged people feel to be of help. The group has posts from people asking for and offering rides with details of route and time, and wefies and tales of people who feel gratified to have helped someone in need.
One such 'offerer,' Sachin Timalsena, 22, vice president at Human Values for Peace and Prosperity, shares how addictive and amazing it feels to help others. "Lately I've started posting bike ride offers on the group, but I used to go ahead and offer rides to people waiting for public transport when I'd be riding alone. My priority is elderly people, for they aren't strong enough to walk or travel in an overstuffed vehicle. It certainly is an amazing feeling to be of help during a national crisis like this."
But the whole concept of carpooling is based on the notion of trusting one another. So what if you end up trusting the wrong person?
Shristi Mainali, 22, student of public health who has been offering rides to needy strangers after the blockade, explains that it can be safer for girls to take bike rides compared to car rides. "Even though I own a scooter, I have taken lifts from strangers during the odd number plate days. If I'm on a bike and the man misbehaves or takes me to a different direction, I can shout out for help or take his helmet off and pull his hair. Or we could also take a selfie before taking or offering the ride, so that later you can report if something goes wrong."
Sumana adds that in order to ensure a secure ride, one can check for mutual friends on Facebook before accepting rides. "That is something I too have been doing for a long time. Kathmandu is a small city and we have plenty of mutual friends which we should definitely use to ensure safety. Once one sees an offer to hitchhike, s/he can ask their mutual friends if the person can be trusted. Carpool does not take responsibility for any accidents, in fact no platform does. But in today's world, as adults we should take calculated risk," she asserts.
Ujjwal Atreya, 23, an undergrad of Information Technology, who started Sajilo Ride, another Facebook group serving a similar purpose, explains that one has to take risk on their own regarding the rides. "The group is meant to provide a platform for people but they will have to take risks on their own."
So carpooling has been a great platform for people without a vehicle of their own at this time of political impasse. But traveling in a public vehicle in Nepal hasn't been convenient in "normal" times, either. Especially during rush hours, commuting has always been a burden. So should this continue even after the borders open?
Sumana stresses that this would be relevant even after the blockade is over. "The current situation has only been a catalyst for starting this platform. It has also proved to be a beautiful medium to connect people. So I'll definitely work to keep this community alive. In addition to that, Carpool Kathmandu, Yellow Nepal and Kazi Studios have come together to develop an app soon in the future, so that the whole thing could be more organized."
Sachin further adds, "Fuel crisis is not new in Nepal. Unless we find an alternative to it, we'll have to keep enduring problems like this time and again. So, this should continue, and besides, this could be a whole new way to socialize and meet new people. It's bringing people together. The inspiring stories posted on the group are testimonies to this fact."
Related story
Commuters turn to carpooling
-1779250876.webp)
