proposal for a drum corps fan RIDESHARE system

[Xmen89]

Many within the drum corps community have been concerned about the effect of high cost of transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel and jet fuel) on the activity. While most attention has been paid to the cost of touring for the corps, fans are also feeling the pain at the pump and this may have an effect on ticket sales.

This problem will only get worse in the coming years, and we should anticipate ever-rising prices followed by shortages in gasoline availability as the peak and decline in global oil production fails to meet demand.

In many urban areas, ridesharing has been an effective response to rising commuting and travel costs. Numerous websites have been established to facilitate the connection between those seeking to share rides.

Would a drum corps rideshare system be useful? Perhaps using a website, drum corps fans could create profiles including the basics of where they live, their transportation options, and some information on their drum corps background. For each show of the season, attendees could then sign up for a “ride offered” or “ride wanted”, see who else might be traveling from their area, and get connected.

Unlike other rideshare system, we are not complete strangers here (though, perhaps given our passion, we are all a bit strange). Many in the drum corps community are connected by fewer than 6 degrees of separation. You know: I marched with Julie who went on to march in the Blue Knights and their guard instructor Jesse taught marching band with Joe who was a drum tech with the Bluecoats when Jason marched snare before going to Blue Devils the year you marched.

Maybe a basic system could even be set up within Drum Corps Planet as a separate Forum?

Any thoughts on if this would work? Potential problems? Other benefits?

[arno0940]

Many within the drum corps community have been concerned about the effect of high cost of transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel and jet fuel) on the activity. While most attention has been paid to the cost of touring for the corps, fans are also feeling the pain at the pump and this may have an effect on ticket sales.

This problem will only get worse in the coming years, and we should anticipate ever-rising prices followed by shortages in gasoline availability as the peak and decline in global oil production fails to meet demand.

In many urban areas, ridesharing has been an effective response to rising commuting and travel costs. Numerous websites have been established to facilitate the connection between those seeking to share rides.

Would a drum corps rideshare system be useful? Perhaps using a website, drum corps fans could create profiles including the basics of where they live, their transportation options, and some information on their drum corps background. For each show of the season, attendees could then sign up for a “ride offered” or “ride wanted”, see who else might be traveling from their area, and get connected.

Unlike other rideshare system, we are not complete strangers here (though, perhaps given our passion, we are all a bit strange). Many in the drum corps community are connected by fewer than 6 degrees of separation. You know: I marched with Julie who went on to march in the Blue Knights and their guard instructor Jesse taught marching band with Joe who was a drum tech with the Bluecoats when Jason marched snare before going to Blue Devils the year you marched.

Maybe a basic system could even be set up within Drum Corps Planet as a separate Forum?

Any thoughts on if this would work? Potential problems? Other benefits?

This is a FANTASTIC idea - aside from the benefits you have already pointed out, I would like to add how this impacts our environmental impact. Fewer cars on the road = fewer carbon emissions

[PRAng]

I think this is a great idea. I'm sure a lot of it is already going on very informally (I know I try to connect with family and friends whenever possible to share rides to/from shows), but a structured system to bring others together could have great benefits, as you've noted! I'll jump on board if something along these lines is created!

And I'd be willing to throw an option out there as early as this Friday..... I'm driving from Chicago to Normal, IL and back and I'm working on the people, vehicles, times, etc now. I could possibly handle another one or two people in the mix.

[bawker]

Sounds like a good idea.

If you don't mind, Xmen89, I'm going to change the first post to have a polling option as well to gauge the interest level for something like this around here.

[Bill L.]

Is this where you need post details and set up rides ?

Bill

[DCImonkey]

What an excellent Idea.....we can share rides to shows....discuss corps ....and later after snack, we can chop them up into little pieces and save them for later in our freezers!

You can't have mansLAUGHTER without Laughter! :) BWHAHAHAHA!

hmm, I think I just ruined the whole idea by being creepy

[bawker]

Is this where you need post details and set up rides ?

Bill

I answered this through PM already, but if anyone has any details / shows they want to get to, etc that they want to post, use this thread for now.

The poll up top should help to see if we have enough interest for something further.

[bawker]

(bump)

[crfrey71]

A big benefit I see is that woith the saved money on gas, folks would be more willing to spend on souvenirs.

[jdCadet07]

This is a great idea. I cannot afford to go to the Atlanta Regional this year because my truck SUCKS GAS LIKE A PROSTITUTE SUCKS.. well anyway you get the idea...

Anyone heading to atlanta from northwest florida or around??? (Pensacola, FL)