A newspaper in Texas has reported that the University of Texas will set aside car parking spaces for car poolers. Car pooling has long be used as a method to encourage people to get to work, extending it to the parking space is a good idea and in many ways much better than congestion charging.

In many big cities, local authorities are resorting to charging motorists to enter specified areas. There are few incentives that encourage different behaviour or better behaviour and congestion charging does hurt the poor. Car pooling is an example where people are rewarded for their behaviour. It hasn't really worked in transporting people to work.

It seems are lives are too disorganised to be able to get three people together at the same time to go to the same place but, if the principle was applied to town centres and car parking spaces it might just work. Simply reserve car parking for car poolers in these areas and to get it going, make the parking free. If drivers cheat, then apply the heavy fines. No only would this reduce congestion it might reduces emissions as well.

Most cars that enter cities have just occupant, the driver. Restricting carparking to drivers that also carry two passengers will reduce the use of the car. The University of Texas has added perks to its car pooling offering including a guaranteed ride home if you need to leave campus before the carpool is read or in case of emergency, (paid bus or taxi service), but that might be a step too far. Other benefits include reduced fees.

Is this something for local government's to think about?