STAFFORD — Commuters in Fredericksburg and Stafford may now tap an app to get to Tysons Corner.
Sameride, an independent company launched in 2016, offers free carpooling to commuters looking or offering a ride to the office. Similar to ridesharing services Uber and Lyft, Sameride utilizes an app that allows its customers to connect with each other not just in their own neighborhood but along the routes they drive as well. Users of the app have referred to it as “an Uber for slugging.”
Slugging is a term for carpooling by meeting at a specific location to catch a ride. It has been a popular way to commute into Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. for years. Many have witnessed the “slug lines” of commuters waiting for a ride form commuter lots along the Interstate 95 corridor, from Horner Road in Woodbridge to Gordon Road in Spotsylvania County. This app helps in eliminating the need for slug-lines and brings the carpool to the commuters’ front door.
Unlike other ridesharing services Uber and Lyft, there are no fees or charges for riding.
The ability to save people time, money and stress are the company’s selling points. There are also no obligations to ride more than once and riders can join a carpool anytime they choose.
Sameride vehicles use the I-95 and 495 E-ZPass Express Lanes, where single drivers are charged a toll but vehicles with three or more riders can use the lanes free of charge. Because of this, the company estimates that their riders can save up to $1,200 a year on tolls and fees, according to the company’s website.
The company operates on grants, so they’re able to offer their app for free. Sameride spokesman Andriy Klymchuk declined to say who funds the company.
Sameride operates similar routes from the Stafford and Fredericksburg to points in Woodbridge, Arlington, Tysons Corner, and Washington D.C.
The Sameride app is available for iPhone and Android.
