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Here, Kandasamy concentrates information into one place, clarifying the slugging process and fostering the community. In addition to the app, Kandasamy hopes to build upon the already active slugging community, which exists across a smattering of forums and social media pages, within a Wikipedia-esque website.
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#Triangle va slugline drivers#
Slugs line up at established pick-up points, and drivers going in the same direction stop by to pick up one or two riders, allowing them to take advantage of HOV lanes on highways during rush hour into and out of the region. Slugging also has strong followings in San Francisco, Houston, Pittsburgh, and a few other metropolitan areas. Since then, Kandasamy estimates some 10,000 to 15,000 “slugs” – the name for such commuters – have been using this as a transportation option every day in the region. In the U.S., beginning with the oil embargo in the 1970s and the introduction of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, commuters began to grab rides with drivers going in the same direction. “It is a combination of hitchhiking and carpooling,” according to Kalai Kandasamy, long-time slugger and creator of the Sluglines app, which crowdsources real-time data to assist participants, removing doubt from the process for both “slugs” and drivers. One option that offers commuters the flexibility of driving and the benefits of carpooling is “casual carpooling,” or “slugging.” However, for some it can seem too difficult to organize, making it unlikely to attract many people away from driving on their own. Organized carpooling is a simple and longstanding congestion solution, and it can save money for commuters and space on the highways.
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Slugging, D.C.’s original ride-sharing system, has its own app
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