Reps. Warren, Booher, Constan, Dean, Geiss, Gonzales, Griffin, Hansen, Robert Jones, Lahti, Lemmons, Marleau, Meadows, Polidori, Proos, Spade, Stanley, Tlaib, Tyler, Valentine and Walsh offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 69.

            A resolution declaring April 2009 as Car Pool Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Carpooling, also known as car-sharing, ride-sharing, lift-sharing, is the shared use of a car by the driver and one or more passengers. Carpool projects have been around in a structured form since the mid-1970s in the United States of America; and

Whereas, Carpoolers use pool members’ private cars for shared journeys, usually to and from work.  Hence, carpooling reduces the costs involved in repetitive or long distance driving by sharing cars. A mutual benefit exists between the driver and passenger(s); and

 Whereas, According to the U.S. Census: In 2007 there were approximately 4,400,000 commuters in the state of Michigan, approximately 83% (3,655,000) of which drive to work alone; and

Whereas, Carpooling reduces the number of cars on the road, the need for parking spaces, the cost of maintaining and building more parking structures and bridges, the wear and tear of pavement,  and the transportation congestion that inhibits our daily commutes; and

Whereas, Carpooling curbs both the number of miles put on a car and the amount of money spent on maintenance, while also preventing its premature decrease in value; and

Whereas, In a global perspective, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and green space can be preserved.  In wartime, carpooling was encouraged to save oil. Today, carpooling can once again reduce the national dependency on oil and share the cost of gas; and

Whereas, Carpooling reduces driving stress and creates a fun and social alternative to driving alone, allowing employees to arrive to work more relaxed; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare April 2009 as Car Pool Month in the state of Michigan. The members and the people of the state of Michigan recognize that carpooling is a flexible, convenient and economical way to reach your destination.  Additionally, carpooling helps reduce vehicle emissions to help keep our air clean and reduce transportation cost; and be it further

Resolved, We encourage all citizens to carpool with neighbors, coworkers, family, friends to celebrate April 2009 as Car Pool Month.