Footballers kick off Highland Liftshare

29 January 2013

SOME of the biggest names in Highland football have teamed up with Transition Black Isle to help fans cut car use and beat traffic jams on the Kessock Bridge.

A new website highland.liftshare.com is helping people get together to travel to work or to events such as shows and football matches.

Transition Black Isle is promoting the site as part of its Million Miles project, which aims to cut car use on the Black Isle by one percent a year over the next three years.

Inverness Caley FC captain Ritchie Foran and forward Conor Pepper joined Transition Black Isle director Wendy Price and Million Miles project officers Peter Elbourne and Marion McDonald to officially launch the new site at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. 

“With fuel costs rising and traffic jams becoming an ever more common sight in the Highlands, the time has never been better to share the costs, share the journey and share the craic,” said Marion.

“The site is part of a raft of measures we are working on to help people find low carbon alternatives for getting around.  As well as promoting lift sharing, we’re encouraging people to get on their bikes to travel short distances, or try using public transport.” 

“Highland.liftshare.com is new and it might take a while for you to find a match initially but keep trying, or broaden your search a little,” Marion added. “Every day new people are registering and as they do, more and more options will come available.  

“We’ve been working with businesses and organisations such as Lifescan and Scottish Natural Heritage. We are very grateful for the widespread encouragement and support we have received, including from Arnold Clark of Inverness who kindly supplied the car for the photoshoot.”

Inverness Caledonian Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron said: “Caley Thistle is delighted to be assisting and supporting this very worthwhile project. It is not only an opportunity to save on fuel bills but also your chance to do your bit for the environment, which is something we should all respect.”

TBI director Wendy Price has put a huge amount of voluntary effort into getting the Highland Liftshare website up and running.  She said:  “I live close to the A9 and every day I see so many cars heading to Inverness, or Dingwall with just one person inside.  With the increasing price of fuel it just seems mad that we can't organise ourselves better to co-ordinate our travel.  The Highland Liftshare website does just that - matches people up making the same journey.

“Experience from other similar projects has shown that people can save up to £1000 per year by lift sharing so it’s well worth thinking about how you can make arrangements to travel with others.”

The Highland Liftshare site was financed by Highland Council through its Ward 10 Discretionary Fund. 

The scheme was endorsed by Black Isle councillors, who said in a statement: “As Black Isle councillors we are all keen to see disruption minimised when work begins on the Kessock Bridge in February. Car sharing is one obvious way to reduce the number of vehicles travelling to and from Inverness and we are pleased to have been able to support Transition Black Isle in developing the Highland Liftshare website. 

“In the long term, this is an opportunity for us all to change our travel habits, make better use of resources and make the Black Isle greener. Getting a lift with a neighbour is going to be one of the most effective solutions to reducing traffic during the bridgeworks and will very likely become a habit as the other benefits become obvious.  So get to know your neighbours better by organising a Lift share.”

Ross County Football Club is also working to boost Highland Liftshare and promote it to fans. Manager Derek Adams said:  “There is something very special about the community up here in the Highlands and Islands - players moving up to the area often comment on how friendly and helpful everyone is.

“We know that the geography presents some unique challenges for people and particularly our fans - many of whom have journeys of over an hour for home games here in Dingwall. Lift sharing is a great way not only to save money and help the environment, but it can also add to your match day experience - having someone with you who shares your passion as well as your fuel costs sounds like a win win to me!"

The site is now live at www.highland.liftshare.com and includes full details of how to use it.  For more information or help with any problems encountered using the site contact the Million Miles team, millionmiles@transitionblackisle.org on Twitter @TBImillionmiles or on 07715 663781