"Projets Saint-Laurent", a Quebec non-profit organization that is also heading the event "Jour de la Terre", plans to launch a highly anticipated taxi-sharing program in Montreal come April.

The idea is to match passengers who do not know each other but who travel similar routes, so that they can share the cost of a taxi ride. The concept is similar to taxi-sharing systems that exist in Latin America and several cities around the world, notably New York.

In New York, one of these services named "Fare-Share", permits New Yorkers who wish to take a taxi to search for an 'en-route' companion to share the taxi fare with. With the use of a smart-phone, the individual enters their starting point and destination and if someone expresses their plans to go the same route, they can agree to meet and share the cab fare.

The concept, imagined by Pierre Lussier, Vice President of "Projects Saint-Laurent", however, goes one step further. The goal is to divide the island of Montreal in order to determine fixed rates depending on the number of zones crossed, while still offering door-to-door service to each passenger. Thus, in contrast to New York's "Fare- Share", prior agreements should be made with taxi owners to ensure that the cost of the ride does not change due to the weather or traffic

Lussier hopes that the taxi-sharing system will appeal to employees who regularly use their cars to get to the workplace because they feel public transport is less convenient or efficient. Given the recent increase in Montreal transit fares, Montrealers may also be eager to adopt a more budget-friendly transit-sharing alternative.

-This article was translated in part from French to English and originally appeared in Le Devoir on January 20, 2011, written by Jeanne Corriveau
http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/montreal/315039/prendre-le-taxi-a-moitie-prix