The municipality is trying to encourage more people to share a ride on their way to work or school. 
February is carpool month and officials are promoting an online tool to help connect commuters.
Those who register could win a $500 gift card towards gas purchases – visit www.carpoolmonth.ca for more details.
“There is a misconception that creating a carpool is tricky, but the reality is that it can’t be easier. When people sign up, they will be notified of others in the area who are also looking for the exact same thing,” said Ian Clark, Transit Project Manager with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. “We want to encourage the ‘ah-ha’ moments of discovering who else is looking to share a ride, after all, carpooling is all about community because it connects friends, neighbours, and colleagues together.”
Chatham-Kent’s Economic Development department is also reaching out to business owners, manufacturers, and agricultural industries, providing tools that could help current and future employees.
“In a digital economy that has seen the rise of many ridesharing programs, this is an excellent turn-key opportunity for businesses to take carpooling to the next level,” said Jamie Rainbird, Manager of Chatham-Kent Economic Development. “There is no doubt that Commute Ontario can give a competitive advantage to manufacturers and all industry when it comes to hiring and retaining employees, which is essential in today’s market.”