News Release 455

MID-MISSOURI RIDESHARE PROGRAM
HOLDS PRIZE DRAWING, ENCOURAGES COMMUTERS TO "SHARE THE RIDE STATEWIDE"

Volume 35-455

Contact: Larry Archer

(For immediate release)

573-751-3807

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 9, 2007 -- Commuters in existing carpools or registering to join carpools in the Mid--Missouri Rideshare Program through Oct. 26 will be eligible for prizes including lodging and camping in Missouri state parks, as the program urges commuters to "Share the Ride."

The week of Oct. 22-26 will be "Share the Ride Statewide" week in Missouri, as Mid-Missouri Rideshare and other rideshare groups in Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield hold drawings, visit commuter lots and provide information about the benefits of carpools and vanpools.

Mid-Missouri Rideshare is coordinated regionally by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Energy Center. "Carpooling is the easiest way to have an immediate effect on your commuting costs," said Energy Center Director Anita Randolph. "Just sharing the ride with one person can save the average driver making the trip more than $1,000 per year in reduced fuel costs. Those savings grow even more as you increase the number of people in the carpool."

To register for an existing carpool, volunteer to start a new carpool or sign up to be matched with carpools in your area contact the Energy Center at 573-751-3443 or the department toll free at
800-361-4827. For more carpool information online, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/
transportation/ride.htm or call Mid-Missouri Rideshare at 573-522-RIDE (7433).

The Mid-Missouri Rideshare Program serves the counties of Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Gasconade, Howard, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Pulaski and Randolph. It focuses especially on matching up people who want to carpool to Jefferson City or Columbia.

For more information about "Share the Ride Statewide" week, including contest rules for the Mid-Missouri Rideshare drawing and links to other rideshare groups and activities, visit the department's Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/sharetheride.htm.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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