Giving evidence to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee this week, Ali Clabburn, Founder of Liftshare and Chair of Mobilityways, warned that the UK is missing a "low-cost, high-impact solution" to congestion, emissions, and access to work: carpooling.

Clabburn highlighted that without carpooling, there would be 30% more cars on Britain's roads today, yet government policy has left the sector unsupported while other European countries are surging ahead. France, Italy, and the Netherlands have all adopted national carpooling plans, with France investing EUR 150 million annually to triple carpooling by 2027.

"Carpooling is a win-win: it saves people money, cuts emissions, improves access to jobs, reduces loneliness and congestion - and it can be done tomorrow, because the empty seats are already there," said Ali Clabburn.

"Our Liftshare members save on average £1,000 a year - the equivalent of a pay rise - while cutting around a tonne of CO2. Yet unlike buses or EVs, carpooling has no government plan, no funding, and no campaign to rebuild participation after Covid. That has to change."

Other evidence to the committee reinforced Mobilityways' call:

Richard Dilks (CoMoUK) warned that the UK is "at an all-time low" in government support, with no officials or ministers responsible for shared mobility, and compared unfavourably to Germany, Belgium and Switzerland where carpooling is embedded in transport policy.

Sam Dewhurst (HiyaCar) showed how corporate car-sharing schemes in the NHS and local government are cutting costs and emissions, with one trust saving £60,000 and 20 tonnes of CO2 in a year.

MPs on the Committee acknowledged that carpooling could play a key role in rural access and workforce recruitment, where poor public transport is holding back growth.

Mobilityways is urging the Department for Transport to adopt a national carpooling strategy, including:

Incentives for first-time carpool trips, following the successful French model.

Recognition of carpooling as a formal transport mode in government policy.

Support for employers to integrate lift-sharing into recruitment, retention and net zero plans.

Clabburn concluded:

"The government says it wants to cut congestion and emissions, improve access to work, and boost productivity. Carpooling delivers all of that, immediately, at minimal cost. Other countries have shown what's possible. It's time the UK caught up."

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