My social life at this point is strung up and down the Western Coast of the Great US of A. Most of my friends and relatives live in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. After a brief foray to the east coast I made the relatively easy decision that the left side of the country is the place for me. It's the people, the nature, and the cities that make the West Coast a prime place to live. But now I'm confronted with a problem. With my social network strung between several different states along an expansive coastline, how am I going to see everyone?

I have been disapointed with the options for travel up the coast and along the I-5 corridor. Sure there are plenty of reasonable plane fairs between these cities but for the unemployed, poor traveller, there aren't a lot of premium budget options. If you can get together a few people for a car trip then prices are reasonable but if you're driving by yourself its better just to fly.

I wish there were more car share options for travellers. Back in the day our parents simply stood by the side of the road and stuck their thumbs out for a ride. But nowadays with the unibomber, Ted Kazinsky, cocacola zero, and other social menaces it just doesn't seem prudent to leave one's life to the mercy of the road. The internet should be the new place for hitchhikers. Our parents don't trust the anonymity and openness of the web but people in our generation use their computers for everything, only turning to RL (short for real life) solutions when absolutely necessary. Instead of bumming rides on the road travellers should be able to plan their trips ahead of time by signing up to online communities and arranging trips. Everyone could offer something, whether it be a car, money for gas, or maybe conversation and companionship on a long train ride.

An online trave/rideshare community would have several benefits to traditional hitchiking. First, people could plan their trips ahead of time so that making it to granny's funeral didn't depend on the wim of big rig truckers. Secondly, the online community could fulfill multiple functions. It could be a place to arrange rideshares, exchange travel tips, dispense travel warnings, and act as a social network to keep people who met each other while travelling connected. But its most important function would be to make travelling up and down the coastal states an easier and cheaper journey. In my mind I can envision listings offering and asking for rides from Vancouver BC down to San Diego.

Right now there are a few websites that serve some of the functions I am describing. Craig's list has a rideshare option but listings are always posted at the last minute and rides usually don't cover long distances. Ridester is the most popular rideshare only website but its listings are woefully limited. couchsurfer.org is an online travel community but it is more oriented towards connecting people for cheap or free accomadations rather than for transportation. I am now putting out a call to all techno nerds: let's make this website for the mutual benefit of all!