Eqstra launches the Best Lift Club portal

Extensive market research

EFM conducted extensive market research prior to embarking on this project, which showed that there was already a considerable demand for a lift-club service. When asked whether an online database of motorists in their neighbourhood would be appealing, 62 percent agreed it would be, while 69 percent would welcome a similar database showing motorists in their company. In turn, 65 percent of organisations said they would like a database allowing employees to form lift clubs easily, and 77 percent said they would promote such a database to their employees.

"Lift clubs can deliver benefits to individuals and society at large, yet so far their use in South Africa is limited," said Murray Price, EFM's MD. "The Best Lift Club portal is designed to offer a one-stop shop for all commuters that is easy to access and safe to use."

By joining a lift club, you can save on petrol and toll fees, while also reducing your carbon emissions and helping the planet. In addition, lift clubs help to reduce traffic congestion and road wear and tear, making the roads safer for all road users.

Using the Best Lift Club portal allows you to search for lift clubs online, start a club, or search for other members on the same route. Registration on bestliftclub.co.za is free, with handy calculators supplied to work out travel costs and carbon savings.

Route-matching notifications to be delivered

The service is being launched with an initial registration drive. Once critical mass is reached, route-matching notifications will be delivered to everyone registered on the site to enable clubs to get up and running.

Gauteng MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi will be part of the launch of this project with the aim of building an ongoing partnership between Eqstra and the Gauteng Department of Transport. "Traffic congestion is a major problem in the province. By using lift clubs and public transport, the roads can be made safer and more pleasant for everyone," he said.

Set up pick-up points

"What is most exciting about this project is the fact that it also takes into account the use of public transport through the Gautrain feeder lifts, where corporates are encouraged to set up pick-up points between Gautrain Stations and their offices. This will encourage more employees to make use of the Gautrain daily," said Vadi.

EFM fully supports the Decade for Action on Road Safety. "We are identifying areas where we can collaborate with the Gauteng Department of Transport," says Price. "Once these areas have been identified, we will take action. We are also offering training to school bus drivers to decrease the number of incidents involving school children. Through the platform EFM also wants visibly to promote the wearing of the Decade for Action on Road Safety badges."