Future convenient & real-time car pooling

Carpool 2.0

Short Story

Imagine before I start my mid-morning drive to visit my elderly father, I text carpool network my destination and request passenger using my cell phone.  In about 25 seconds, I receive a text message that 3 possible candidates wanting rides near my drive path.  These candidates are listed in order of convenience based upon pick up locations plus drop-off locations.  I plug my cell phone into car GPS and it displays those 3 pick-ups plus drop-off locations on a map relative to my shortest drive path.  From preference, I pick candidate #2.  Information shows passenger has been registered for 18 months.  During these 18 months, passenger has carpooled with network 8 times plus what I like is the 100% perfect payment history.  This passenger will pay me $2.78 (calculated by the carpool network) if I pick passenger up in twenty minutes and then drop off at a network determined location loaded as wayward point.  I decide it is convenient for me, I enjoy company while driving plus a couple bucks are nice.   I press OK on my cell phone to notify the network that I choose #2 plus I am on my way.  My passenger receives a text message that a driver is coming, the color and make of my car, my license plate number and time of pick up at the curb location that passenger had selected is estimated to be in 14 minutes.  The passenger’s credit card will be debited $2.92 and a $2.78 credit to his driver.  Passenger realizes he can still finish his email and walk out to the curb within time period.  He presses OK to rendezvous for pick-up thru his cell phone.   He is now being tracked by the position locator within his cell phone.   My car GPS system displays one extra blue blip near the pick-up point indicating proximity of passenger to the pickup location.  Also download via cell phone onto GPS LCD displays photo of a young man in blue polo shirt.  GPS directs me turn by turn to the pick up location.  Although I am familiar with neighborhood, being 5 miles from home, the sound of GPS female voice somehow provides assurance from the uncertainty of meeting and picking up a stranger.  As I drive I notice the blue blip is also inching closer to the pick-up point.  This calms my concern of having to wait for my passenger to run up.  The position that my cell phone emits also allows the passenger to verify that his driver is coming and the projected pick up time is now shortened to just 3 minutes.  He starts searching the continuous stream of cars matching a blue/gray Toyota Camry.  As I drive closer to the pick up point, I spot my passenger standing at sidewalk where GPS is directing me.  I studied his face and his features resemble photo displayed on my GPS LCD or a smaller image on my cell phone.  At my age, I squint to see small images.   I unlock all doors, pull up to the curve and invite him in.  “Please forgive the stuff on the back seats;” I pleaded, “Come sit at the front.”  I didn’t tidy since my last tennis engagement.  Leaving sport gear in my car reduces chance I forget something for my next physical exercise.  Having it visible in the back also feels manly and sometimes turns conversation to tennis.  He cracks a smile suggesting he has similar habit as he hops in next to me.  We exchange pleasant greetings and head off towards his drop off point.  While we are chatting, I lose concentration of directions but GPS “turn left and then immediately left” instructions help keep me on path.  Network tracks that passenger has been picked up and debits his credit card.  Driver does not receive a credit until 24 hours later, a delay incase of a dispute.  As we chat, I notice he is preoccupied with cell phone to learn his drop off point and to determine when his next driver will arrive to take him to his destination.  As small talk, I ask his final destination.  He tells me his car is at a shop near the Fiesta Mall for brake job and he is picking it up.  He also tells me his next driver is another 28 minutes.  I sum up he is friendly.  I consider to print 4 family photos taken with digital camera during Aunt Lu’s visit.  Kinko’s, next to the mall, could do.  I offer to drop him off at the mall instead.  He shows gratitude as he thanks me because he is eager to be back at the office in order to prepare foils for an afternoon meeting.  I stated, “Non problemo.  I am developing photos and there is a Kinko’s nearby.  Minor schedule change.”   He taps itinerary change to notify the network that he is now being driven directly to final destination.  The network cancels the second driver and also responds by text that the trip will now debit $4.04 total instead of the $5.44 originally calculated with two drivers.  He informs me that I will be paid about a dollar more while he saves a buck plus more importantly to him, time...  Both of us are pleased with outcome from this spontaneous change of plan.  We have extra time to chat.  I lower the GPS voice so we can better discuss the pennant race and the coming Sunday football match.