Liftsharing: A Smarter, Greener Way to Travel in Scotland

With high fuel costs and growing traffic congestion, many of us are rethinking how we travel. One simple but powerful solution gaining momentum is liftsharing. 

Whether you're commuting to work, heading to an event or making regular long-distance journeys, sharing a car with others can cut costs, reduce carbon emissions and make travel less stressful. All while helping create a more connected and sustainable Scotland.

Why Liftshare?

Liftsharing offers a wide range of benefits, and not just for those doing the driving:

Save Money

With the cost of living still rising and fuel prices remaining unpredictable, liftsharing is a practical way to cut everyday travel costs. According to Liftshare Group, sharing a regular commute can save an individual up to £1,000 a year.

Sharing fuel and parking costs not only eases the pressure on your wallet but also makes longer journeys more affordable for occasional or one-off travel.

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Transport is the largest contributor to Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for around 36% of total emissions (Scottish Government, 2023). The majority of these come from private car use.

Liftsharing reduces the number of cars on the road, cutting emissions significantly. In fact, if every car commuter in Scotland shared their journey just once a week, it would save over 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually - the equivalent of planting over 450,000 trees.

Relieve Congestion and Parking Pressure

Fewer cars on the road helps reduce congestion, especially during peak commuting hours. It also eases the burden on workplace parking, which is a major challenge for many employers.

Employers offering liftsharing as part of their workplace travel planning often report fewer parking-related complaints and greater staff satisfaction.

Improve Health and Wellbeing

Liftsharing can help reduce the stress associated with driving alone and sitting in traffic. It provides opportunities to socialise, share the responsibility of driving and create a more enjoyable journey overall.

It’s also a good complement to active travel. For those who live far from work or public transport, driving to a park-and-ride location and then sharing the onward journey can make commuting more sustainable without losing convenience.

Liftshare Scotland

Liftshare Scotland provides a free, easy-to-use platform that helps people connect and share journeys. Whether you’re a passenger or driver, by becoming a member can halve your journey cost and make new friends on the way.

Thousands of people across Scotland are already using the platform, with the average savings for each Liftshare Scotland member over £1,000 per year.

Support for Organisations

Workplaces have a key role to play in shaping how people travel. At Travelknowhow Scotland, we offer practical consultancy support to help public, private and third sector organisations develop sustainable travel strategies that work.

We can support your organisation to:

• Set up and promote a workplace liftshare scheme
• Understand staff commuting habits through travel surveys
• Reduce demand for parking and improve site access
• Align travel planning with net zero, climate and wellbeing targets
• Integrate liftsharing into your travel plan, Climate Action Plan or ESG strategy

Our support is tailored, flexible and free for organisations across Scotland. Whether you're starting from scratch or enhancing existing travel plans, we’re here to help.

Make the Move to Shared Travel

Liftsharing is one of the most accessible, cost-effective and immediate steps people can take to travel more sustainably. For organisations, it’s a quick win that contributes to climate targets, reduces parking demand and supports staff wellbeing.

Get started today by visiting Liftshare Scotland: https://hub.liftshare.com/regional/scotland

Or talk to our team at Travelknowhow Scotland to explore how we can support your organisation with sustainable travel planning: info@travelknowhowscotland.co.uk

Let’s work together to share more journeys and build a cleaner, greener Scotland.

www.travelknowhowscotland.co.uk

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