Earlier this month, we found out that the city of Mumbai in India was offering some cool perks for those willing to carpool. We thought that this was a pretty cool idea, so we are pretty keen on the thought that the U.S. is getting something similar. So far only available in one state, NuRide and Dunkin' Donuts have teamed up to offer discounts at Dunkin' Donuts locations for those carpoolers-in-Connecticut who'd like to save $5.00 off a "Box 'O Joe" and a dozen donuts.

If you'd like to get in on the free coffee and donuts (and who wouldn't?), visit NuRide.com and look for other people who are looking to share a ride. If you don't happen to live in Connecticut, other sponsors have signed on that may offer specials in your area.

[Source: NuRide]

If you live in the Bay Area and like to conserve resources (like, say, money and oil), perhaps ride sharing should be added to your list of transportation options. A free service called 511 Rideshare can help passengers and drivers find each other for daily commutes. The website can also help you find vanpool information, which is like carpooling on on steroids. Actually, considering the negative association steroids have these days, I'll say it's more like carpooling on a healthy vegan diet: strong and good for the earth.

If you use 511 Rideshare (which is funded by a bunch of government agencies; see the full list in the release after the break) you not only have someone to split costs with, but you can also then cross toll bridges in the Bay Area for free during your commute. The website will help you figure out just how much money you'll save on tolls and gas and everything with its Commute Calculator.

Have any AutoblogGreen readers tried this service? If so, how well would you say it works?

[Source: 511 Rideshare]

At AltWheels Boston 2007, I had an interesting conversation with Robin Chase, co-founder of Zipcar and founder of GoLoco. In the video above, Robin talks about GoLoco, a Facebook web app that allows you to share rides and share the cost of travel with friends online. Robin says ride sharing reduces the cost of travel which, on average, makes up a fifth of a household budget.

Below the fold are two more videos of Robin. In the first video, Robin talks about mandatory GPS in cars. Robin thinks mandatory GPS wireless in cars is just 5 years away but that this is a good thing and it can be made private. In the second video below the fold, Robin talks about something she thinks the press is not reporting enough: We have to level off our carbon emissions with massive efforts before a "tipping point" of 2015.