Rather side by side

par Mattias Jägerskog
Why we’re celebrating International #RidesharingDay on October 10th

Why we’re celebrating International #RidesharingDay on October 10th In a time when we hear voices arguing that we should be afraid of each other, millions of ridesharers choose to do something completely different. All over the world people are sitting shoulder to shoulder, side by side, in different vehicles, and cross borders together. On October 10th, we’re celebrating International #RidesharingDay for the 7th time. In the last ten years ridesharing has become a shining example of the return of the collaborative economy. This return is viewed by us and many others as a necessity when economies are crashing and earth resources are running out fast. This year, Earth Overshoot Day - the day when when we have exhausted nature’s budget for a year - happened on August 19th. To act on this is not only important, but necessary. When the average European citizen had travelled 9.500 kilometers by car in 2010, it’s no surprise that in the transport sector, the collaborative economy has so many success stories. Sharing is better for both the environment and the people.

The last couple of years, voices have been heard across the world arguing for closing off both borders and societies from each other. To be afraid of each other. At the exact same moment millions of ridesharers choose to do the exact opposite

The International #RidesharingDay was initiated by the Swedish non-profit ridesharing movement Skjutsgruppen in 2008. It puts focus on all environmentally safe means of transportation that we don together - from buses and trains to sailboats and private vehicles. Emphasis lies on sharing and giving gifts to each other. This year the day is celebrated in Turkey, Norway, Belgium, England, Chile, Israel, France, Denmark, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Italy and many more.

This years theme: openness

The last couple of years, voices have been heard across the world arguing for closing off both borders and societies from each other. To be afraid of each other. At the exact same moment millions of ridesharers choose to do the exact opposite. Millions of ridesharers choose to open both their mind and their vehicles. They choose not to view people as strangers, but rather as friends of friends. They choose not to be afraid of each other and instead travel together over all different kinds of borders, both geographically and in their minds. Side by side. Shoulder to shoulder. They choose to be open, and the number of people who practice this are growing every day. That's why this years theme on The International #RidesharingDay is openness. Because this openness happening all over the world, every day, is worth celebrating.

It's time to see that ridesharing in its core means cooperation, rather than competition. It's time for openness

We also take this one step further. If it's true that participants in ridesharing movements choose to be open up to each other, then we can also do this at an organizational level. What is true for the core of ridesharing can also be true for service providers, companies and organizations. In the same way as millions of ridesharers cooperate every day, so can organizations. The International #RidesharingDay is a proof of this. It's time to open up codes and APIs so brilliant minds can program even better transportation solutions, and for the benefit of all travelers do mashups of all environmentally safe means of transportation - from private vehicles to public transportation. It's time to see that ridesharing in its core means cooperation, rather than competition. It's time for openness.

Join the celebrations

You can join the celebrations wherever you are! As an everyday ridesharer you can join by:

Easy steps to arrange a #RidesharingDay event

You can arrange an event celebrating ridesharing in your home town!

As a ridesharer you are free to participate in International #RidesharingDay. Here’s some easy steps people have followed over the last seven years:

  1. Find some friends who like ridesharing as much as you.
  2. Create something that sums up your feelings for ridesharing; a song or a flyer or something else.
  3. Find a good area that acts as a hub for people travelling in your area. Go to this area with your flyers and songs.
  4. Hand out gifts to people travelling together, because people travelling together are worthy to be celebrated. Apples, coffee and cinnamon rolls are very popular.
  5. Give us a shout on www.ridesharingday.com, and we’ll put you on the map!
  6. (and hey, go creative! We love new ideas!)